Biochemical Studies on Some Natural Hypouricemic Agents in Rats.

Abstract

Gout is a serious disease affecting men and characterized by abnormal high level of uric acid in the body, resulting in the formation and deposition of urate crystals in the joint and other tissuescausing painful inflammation. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of parsley and celery leaves alcoholic extract on potassium oxonate induced hyperuricemic rats. For this purpose fifty male albino rats were classified into five equal main equal groups (N=10/group) as follows: group I (Negative control group), group II (Potassium Oxonatehyperuricemic group), group III (Hyperuricemic rats treated with parsley extract), group IV (Hyperuricemic rats treated with celery extract), group V (Hyperuricemic rats treated with allopurinol). Allopurinol was used as a standard drug. The results obtained revealed that, oxonatedhyperuricemic rats (group II), showed a significant increase in the concentration of serum uric acid, creatinine, urea, activities of ALT, AST and ALP in serum. Also significant changes in the biomarker of oxidative stress of hepatic tissue were observed through increased levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA), and decreased in reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. On the other hand administration of parsley and celery leaves extracts ameliorate the alterations in most of the previously mentioned parameters into normal ranges. In conclusion, the results suggest that, the two selected medicinal plants (parsley and celery leaf extracts) can be considered as a potential source of antioxidants and xanthine oxidase inhibitory agent that might be helpful in the prevention and treatment of gout.

Key Words: Parsley - celery – allopurinol - potassium oxonate