Roles of traditional Chinese medicine extracts in hyperuricemia and gout treatment: Mechanisms and clinical applications

Figure 1 Traditional Chinese medicines exhibit multi-target effects. Mechanisms for the treatment of hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout. Purine nucleotides are catalyzed by a variety of enzymes to synthesize uric acid (UA). About 70% of the UA produced by the body is excreted through the kidneys, and the remaining 30% of UA is excreted into the intestinal cavity and excreted with feces. Clinically, allopurinol and febuxostat are used to inhibit the activity of oxidase to reduce UA generation. In addition, probenecid and benzbromarone are used to inhibit human urate transporter 1 to reduce renal reabsorption of UA. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) alleviate HUA by multi-target effects, including inhibition of UA reabsorption, promotion of UA excretion, repair of intestinal barrier function, and regulation of gut microbiota and metabolome. But the mechanisms and side effects of TCMs in the treatment of HUA and gout must be further elucidated to promote the clinical applications of TCMs. XOD: Xanthine oxidase; UA: Uric acid; URAT1: Urate transporter 1.