Astilbin is a
flavonoid compound derived from the rhizome of Smilax china L. The effects and possible molecular mechanisms of
astilbin on
potassium oxonate-induced
hyperuricemia mice were investigated in this study. Different dosages of
astilbin (5, 10, and 20mg/kg) were administered to induce hyperuricemic mice. The results demonstrated that the serum
uric acid (Sur) level was significantly decreased by increasing the urinary
uric acid (Uur) level and fractional excretion of
urate (FEUA) with
astilbin, related with suppressing role in
meditation of
Glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), Human
urate transporter 1 (URAT1) expression and up-regulation of ABCG2,
Organic anion transporter 1/3 (OAT1/3) and
Organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1). In addition, kidney function parameters, including serum
creatinine (Scr) and blood
urea nitrogen (BUN) were restored in
astilbin-treated hyperuricemic rats. Further investigation indicated that
astilbin prevented the renal damage against the expression of
Thioredoxin-interacting
protein (TXNIP) and its related
inflammation signal pathway, including NLR pyrin domain-containing 3/Nuclear factor κB (NLRP3/NF-κB), which is associated with the up-regulation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and
interleukin-18 (IL-18), and also presented a renal protective role by suppression oxidative stress. Moreover,
astilbin inhibited activation of the
Janus kinase 2/
signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) cascade and over-expression of suppressor of
cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) in the kidneys of
potassium oxonate-induced mice. These findings provide potent evidence and therapeutic strategy for
astilbin as a safe and promising compound in the development of a disease-modifying
drug due to its function against hyperuricaemia and renal injury induced by
potassium oxonate.