Planta Med 2011; 77(8): 786-794
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250599
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Mulberroside A Possesses Potent Uricosuric and Nephroprotective Effects in Hyperuricemic Mice

Cai-Ping Wang1 , Yemin Wang1 , 2 , Xing Wang1 , Xian Zhang1 , Jian-Feng Ye3 , Lin-Shui Hu4 , Ling-Dong Kong1
  • 1State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China
  • 2Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
  • 3Zhejiang Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Drug, Hangzhou, P. R. China
  • 4Zhejiang Conba Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Lanxi, P. R. China
Further Information

Publication History

received July 23, 2010 revised October 13, 2010

accepted Nov. 9, 2010

Publication Date:
10 December 2010 (online)

Abstract

Mulberroside A is a major stilbene glycoside of Morus alba L. (Moraceae), which is effectively used for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout in traditional Chinese medicine. We examined whether mulberroside A had effects on renal urate underexcretion and dysfunction in oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice and investigated the potential uricosuric and nephroprotective mechanisms involved. Mulberroside A at 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg decreased serum uric acid levels and increased urinary urate excretion and fractional excretion of uric acid in hyperuricemic mice. Simultaneously, it reduced serum levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen (10–40 mg/kg), urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activity (10–40 mg/kg), β 2-microglobulin (10–40 mg/kg) and albumin (20–40 mg/kg), and increased creatinine clearance (10–40 mg/kg) in hyperuricemic mice. Furthermore, mulberroside A downregulated mRNA and protein levels of renal glucose transporter 9 (mGLUT9) and urate transporter 1 (mURAT1), and upregulated mRNA and protein levels of renal organic anion transporter 1 (mOAT1) and organic cation and carnitine transporters (mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1, and mOCTN2) in hyperuricemic mice. This is the first study demonstrating that mulberroside A exhibits uricosuric and nephroprotective effects mediated in part by cooperative attenuation of the expression alterations of renal organic ion transporters in hyperuricemic mice. These data suggest that mulberroside A may be a new drug candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia with renal dysfunction.

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Ling-Dong Kong

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Nanjing University

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