Mufeed J. Ewadh, Intisar R. Alsultanee and Muna M. Ewadh
Babylon University, College Of Medicine, Clinical Biochemistry Dept., IRAQ
The present study aims to investigate the methanolic extracts effect of Citrullus colocynthis cortex on xanthine oxidase. It is also known for its highly bitter taste such as 'bitter cucumber'. Cortex of such herb tested in vitro at concentration (100 µg/ml) for their inhibition potencies expressed as % inhibition of XO activity. The test plant inhibition activity of xanthine oxidase found to be (78.30±0.92 %) compared with Allopurinol (positive inhibitor) (p < 0.05). The in vivo hypouricaemic activity of such extract (dose of 0.5 mg/kg b.w.) using oxonate-induced hyperuricaemic mice were tested for their ability to reduce the serum urate level and inhibitory actions on the XO enzyme activities in the mouse liver. Potassium oxonate (150 mg/kg, i.p.), an uricase inhibitor was used to induce hyperuricaemia. Allopurinol (10 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as the positive control. The fractions when administered to hyperuricaemic mice produced a significant reduction in serum urate levels due to inhibitory actions on the XO enzyme activities in the mouse liver. Phytochemical screening of the Citrullus colocynthis cortex revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids which may be partly responsible for the beneficial effect on hyperuricaemia and gout.These results suggest that fractions of Citrullus colocynthis cortex could be used as a potential source to treat gout and other inflammatory disorders.