Comprehensive Screening and Evaluation of Anti-gout Activity of Plantago asiatica L. through Integrated In vivo and In vitro Methodologies

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the active components and mechanisms of Plantago asiatica L.(PAL) in the treatment of gout. Materials and Methods: Based on its polarity, PAL was partitioned into three parts, P1, P2, and P3, through gradient elution using AB-8 macroporous resin columns. The primary constituents of these fractions include iridoids, phenylethanoid glucosides, and flavonoids. Subsequently, a comprehensive in vitro and in vivo screening and evaluation model was developed considering the fundamental pathological processes of gout, including the inhibition of uric acid(UA) production, augmentation of UA excretion, and anti-inflammatory effects. This model was used to analyze the anti-gout activity of P1, P2, P3, and the overall extracts derived from PAL. Results: All the PAL parts exhibited specific therapeutic properties as part of gout therapy. Specifically, the P2 part demonstrated the ability to diminish interleukin-1 beta levels, lower UA concentrations, suppress joint inflammation in rats, and restore abnormal parameters associated with gout, such as creatinine and urea nitrogen. These findings highlight the significant effect of P2 on gout treatment. Conclusions: Following a thorough assessment of the outcomes derived from diverse anti-gout experiments, P2 exhibited superior anti-gout properties compared to the remaining parts. P2 demonstrated a restorative effect on the aberrant parameters associated with gout, thereby comprehensively elucidating the therapeutic mechanism of P2 against gout. This study provides substantial evidence and serves as a reference for future investigations regarding the material foundation of PAL in gout treatment.