Hypouricemia effects of corn silk flavonoids in a mouse model of potassium oxonated-induced hyperuricemia

The hypouricemic effect of corn silk flavonoids (CSFs) in vivo that were extracted by ethanol and fractionated by continuous elution with 40% (CSF-A) and 60% (CSF-B) ethanol solutions on polyamide column were investigated in this study. CSFs reduced serum uric acid (UA) level in a mouse model of potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia. CSF-B had the best hypouricemic effect, as it decreased the serum UA level by 26.69% and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in the serum by 11.29%. The mechanism of action of CSF-B was related to the inhibition of XO activity and the promotion of UA excretion. CSF-B was found to contain 12 kinds of major flavonoids, five of which were speculated to influence its activity in the hyperuricemia mice. The five flavonoids were apigenin-6-C-glucoside-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, luteolin-7-glucoside, luteolin-3',7-di-O-glucoside, and naringenin, respectively. Structure analysis revealed that C-4', C5 hydroxyl groups, and C2=C3 double bonds in CSF-B gave the latter its hypouricemic effect. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The prevalence of hyperuricemia has increased in recent times. Current hypouricemic drugs have side effects and can easily lead to various complications. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to find safer and more effective hypouricemic drugs. This study demonstrated that corn silk flavonoids may be used as a dietary supplement to manage hyperuricemia.