OBJECTIVETo study hypouricemic effect of aqueous extract of Lysimachia christinae on hyperuricemia in mice.

METHODThe uricase inhibitor potassium oxonate was used to induce hyperuricemia in mice, and serum uric acid level was determined with the phosphotungstic acid method.

RESULTThe aqueous extract of Lysimachia christinae, when administered orally to the oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice at the doses of 5.2, 10.4 and 20.8 g.kg-1, was able to elicit dose-dependent hypouricemic effects. At these doses of the extract, the serum urate levels of the oxonate-pretreated mice showed no difference from the normal mice. In normal mice, however, oral administration of the extract at the same doses did not produce any observable hypouricemic effects.

CONCLUSIONThe aqueous extract of Lysimachia christinae possesses potent hypuricemic effects on models of hyperuricemia in mice pretreated with oxonate.