Abstract

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that is triggered by the crystallization of uric acid. The therapeutic approach against gout is given by the treatment of inflammation and the control of hyperuricemia. This study aim to investigate whether glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (CS) in chicken feet cartilage powder (CFE) and aqueous extract (AE) are able to decrease serum urate level and inflammation in animal model of gouty arthritis. CFE and AE were evaluated in vitro for xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition. The anti-hyperuricemic activity and liver XO inhibition were evaluated in vivo on oxonate-induced hyperuricemia rats. Anti-inflammatory activity was also investigated on monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced paw edema model. CFE and AE supplementation showed urate-lowering activity. However, both treatments were not able to inhibit in vitro and in vivo XO activity. In MSU crystal-induced mice, the levels of paw swelling and lipid peroxidation were increased; in addition, a decrease in the activities of SOD and changes in the expression of CD11b+TNF-α and CD11b+IL-6 of the spleen were demonstrated. These changes were reverted to near normal levels upon AE and CFE treatments. These results suggest that CS and glucosamine from CFE and AE show a potent therapeutic effect against gouty arthritis.

Key words: chicken feet cartilage, gout, hyperuricemia, monosodium urate, inflammation