Investigation of Chemical Compounds and Effect of Astragalus Galactites (Pall.) on MSU Crystal-Induced Acute Gouty Arthritis in Rats

Abstract

The objective of the present investigation is to identify the biologically active components of Astragalus galactites (AG) and examine their effect on rats of acute gouty arthritis induced by crystals of the compound monosodium urate (MSU). Analyses of AG chemical constituents and their antioxidant activity were performed using both UV spectrophotometric and HPLC methods. Twenty-five adult Wistar rat males in total were assigned at random to a choice of five groups: AG 160 mg/kg, AG 330 mg/kg, MSU group, control group, and normal group. We reported the contents of Formononetin 1.97 µg/mL, Astragaloside IV 0.56 mg/mL, and total flavonoid 0.22±0.07% in the aerial part of our sample AG. In the DPPH scavenging assay, methanol and ethanol extracts established antioxidant properties with an IC50 concentration of 91.04 µg/mL and 93.13 µg/mL, respectively. In the ABTS scavenging assay, IC50 concentrations of 387.2 µg/mL (methanol extract) and 436.2 µg/mL (ethanol extract) were also shown. This investigation also looked at the histopathological characteristics related to MSU-induced gouty arthritis in order to assess the preventive effects of the AG plant on inflammatory mediator levels. In the AG 330 mg/kg group, the level of PGE2 significantly reduced (p<0.001). Our results showed that the AG 330 mg/kg group was relatively effective in the treatment of gouty arthritis compared to other groups, which appears to be mediated by inhibiting the release of cytokines that pro-inflammation. The main compounds of the AG medicine plant, flavonoids and saponins, are acutely anti-gout due to the resulting decrease in PGE2 levels. We have hypothesized that it is able to treat acute gouty arthritis by reducing levels of UA and PGE2, providing an anti-inflammatory effect. This study contributes to the body of evidence that AG can be utilized in preventing and treating hyperuricemia.