Methodology for Screening Effective Substances of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Reducing Serum Uric Acid Level / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Gout is caused by the nucleation and growth of monosodium rate crystals in tissues and around joints, which is followed by long-standing hyperuricemia and serum urate of above the saturation threshold. It could cause a series of complications, such as cardiovascular, hypertension, and renal complications. Over the past two decades, the incidences of hyperuricemia and gout have been increasing due to the continuous improvement of living standards and the changes in dietary structure. The prime and most important therapy for hyperuricemia and gout is to reduce serum uric acid levels, but the western medicine for reducing uric acid in clinical application has serious toxic and side effects. With the rapid development of modern science and technology, the application and development of different screening methods for effective ingredients with a low toxicity and side effects from Chinese herbal medicines for reducing serum uric acid levels has attracted much attention in the research and development of drugs for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia and gout. In this study, the screening methods for extracts, fractions, active monomer components and other effective substances were reviewed and analyzed. According to the findings, the screening methods had a considerable progress both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that the in vivo methods were mainly applied for studying the urate lowing effect and mechanisms of herbal extracts, while the studies for xanthine oxidase(XOD) inhibitors mainly depended on the in vitro methods. Molecular docking homology modeling and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry have become a new trend for screening effective substances with XOD inhibitory activities and uric acid excretion activities, while cell model will open up a new way for screening effective substances for uric acid excretion. The review provides certain reference for effective components screening of hyperuricemia and gout.