Saponins extracted from Dioscorea collettii rhizomes regulate the expression of urate transporters in chronic hyperuricemia rats

ObjectiveThe current study aimed to investigate whether the saponins, bioactive component of effects of D. collettii, could reduce the serum uric acid level in a hyperuricemic mouse via regulation of urate transporters.MethodsChronic hyperuricemia model was established by combine administration of adenine (100 mg/kg) and ethambutol (250 mg/kg). In the model group, the serum uric acid (SUA), urine uric acid (UUA) volume, and 24-h UUA values increased significantly, while the uric acid clearance rate (CUr) and creatinine clearance rate (CCr) values decreased. Further, the model groups showed significantly lower expression of organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) and organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) and significantly higher expression of renal tubular urate transporter 1 (URAT1), glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9) and URAT1 mRNA than the normal control group.ResultsSaponins administration was found to have a dose-dependent effect, as evidenced by the increase in the 24-h UUA, CUr and CCr values; the decrease in SUA; the decrease in the renal expression of URAT1 mRNA and URAT1 and GLUT9 proteins; and the increase in the renal expression of the OAT1 and OAT3 proteins.ConclusionThe saponins extracted from D. collettii rhizomes had an obvious anti-hyperuricemic effect through downregulation of the URAT1 mRNA and the URAT1 and GLUT9 proteins and upregulation of the OAT1 and OAT3 proteins.