The Condition
Gout is a crystal-deposition arthritis caused by hyperuricemia, in which monosodium urate crystals accumulate in synovial joints, triggering an acute inflammatory response mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome activation and neutrophil recruitment.
How the Plant Resolves It
Specific phenolic extracts inhibit xanthine oxidase activity, reducing the enzymatic synthesis of uric acid and mitigating inflammatory crystal precipitation within synovial joints.
- 1.Phenolic extracts inhibit xanthine oxidase.
- 2.Enzymatic synthesis of uric acid is reduced.
- 3.Inflammatory crystal precipitation in synovial joints is mitigated.
How Each Specimen Contributes
Mexican Creeper / Coral Vine
Oleanolic acid competitively inhibits xanthine oxidase at the molybdenum-pterin cofactor site, directly reducing uric acid biosynthesis from hypoxanthine.
Water Oak
Quercetin and ellagic acid inhibit xanthine oxidase activity while chelating the iron that catalyzes the uric acid-generating oxidation step.
Black Tupelo
Quercetin glycosides suppress the NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggered by monosodium urate crystals, reducing the acute inflammatory flare of gout attacks.
Southern Live Oak
Ellagitannins promote renal uric acid excretion by inhibiting URAT1, the renal transporter responsible for urate reabsorption.
Peppergrass
Glucosinolate-derived isothiocyanates inhibit IL-1β release from macrophages exposed to urate crystals, dampening the inflammatory response to joint crystal deposition.
Plant extracts block the chemical enzyme that manufactures uric acid, preventing sharp crystals from forming inside painful joints.
Plants & Trees that treat it
Click any specimen to open its pharmacognostic monograph.
Academic Citations
- 1.Murakami A, Ashida H, Terao J. Multitargeted cancer prevention by quercetin. Cancer Lett. 2008;269(2):315-325.
- 2.Pandey KB, Rizvi SI. Plant polyphenols as dietary antioxidants in human health and disease. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2009;2(5):270-278.
- 3.Del Rio D, Rodriguez-Mateos A, Spencer JPE, et al. Dietary (poly)phenolics in human health. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2013;18(14):1818-1892.
- 4.Fraga CG, Galleano M, Verstraeten SV, Oteiza PI. Basic biochemical mechanisms behind the health benefits of polyphenols. Mol Aspects Med. 2010;31(6):435-445.