In vitro anti-gout and anti-inflammatory activity of traditionally used polyherbal anti-gout remedy

An anti-gout remedy comprising different parts of five herbs – seed of Tribulus terrestris, Carthamus tinctorius, Cucumis melo, Punica granatum, and seed-less fruit of Vitis vinifera – is being used extensively without scientific evidences to therapeutic claim. Prior investigating such claims, a well-characterized and standard formulation is required. Therefore, a standard anti-gout remedy was prepared and then investigated for in vitro anti-gout activity using xanthine oxidase inhibition assay and anti-inflammatory activity employing four in vitro models. The formulation showed dose-dependent xanthine oxidase inhibition activity (IC50, 312 micrograms/mL) having linear regression equation y= 0.0782x+25.564, R2 = 0.9909. The formulation also exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity employing heat-induced albumin denaturation inhibition assay (IC50, 1182±0.1 µg/mL) having linear regression equation y=0.0203x+26, R2 = 0.9908, anti-proteinase assay (IC50, 250±0.1 µg/mL) having linear regression equation y=0.0601x+34.943, R2 = 0.9917, heat-induced red blood cells hemolysis inhibition assay (IC50, 744±0.5 µg/mL) having linear regression equation y=0.05x+12.786, R2 = 0.993 and hypotonicity-induced red blood cells hemolysis inhibition assay (IC50, 746±0.5 µg/mL) having linear regression equation y=0.0525x+10.825, R2 = 0.9934, respectively. The results of the current study gave scientific evidence to the folklore claim of use of polyherbal remedy in curing gout.