Xanthine oxidase inhibitors from Archidendron clypearia(Jack.) I.C. Nielsen: Results from systematic screening of Vietnamese medicinal plants

Objective: To screen Vietnamese medicinal plants for xanthine oxidase(XO) inhibitory activity and to isolate XO inhibitor(s) from the most active plant. Methods: The plants materials were extracted by methanol. The active plant materials were fractionated using different organic solvents, including n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. Bioassay-guided fractionation and column chromatography were used to isolate compounds. The compounds structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data, including IR, MS, and NMR. Results: Three hundreds and eleven methanol extracts(CME) belonging to 301 Vietnamese herbs were screened for XO inhibitory activity. Among these plants, 57 extracts displayed XO inhibitory activity at 100 μg/m L with inhibition rates of over 50%. The extracts of Archidendron clypearia, Smilax poilanei, Linociera ramiflora and Passiflora foetida exhibited the greatest potency with IC_(50) values below 30 μg/m L. Chemical study performed on the extract of Archidendron clypearia resulted in the isolation of six compounds, including 1-octacosanol, docosenoic acid, daucosterol, methyl gallate, quercitrin and(-)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan. The compound(-)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan showed the most potent XO inhibitory activity with an IC_(50) value of 25.5 μmol/L. Conclusions: From this investigation, four Vietnamese medicinal plants were identified to have XO inhibitory effects with IC_(50) values of the methanol extracts below 30 μg/m L. Compound(-)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan was identified as an XO inhibitor from Archidendron clypearia with IC_(50) value of 25.5 μmol/L.

Identifi cation of egg protein-derived peptides as xanthine oxidase inhibitors:virtual hydrolysis,molecular docking,and in vitro activity evaluation

The purpose of this study was to screen the xanthine oxidase(XO)inhibitory peptides from egg white proteins through virtual hydrolysis,in vitro activity validation,and molecular docking.The results demonstrated that tripeptide EEK from ovalbumin exhibited potent XO inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 141μmol/L.The molecular docking results showed that tripeptide EEK bound with the active center of XO via 3 carbon hydrogen bond interactions,2 salt bridges,5 conventional hydrogen bond interactions,and 4 attractive charge interactions.The residues Glu802,Phe1009,and Arg880 may play key roles in the XO catalytic reaction.Especially,the key intermolecular forces of inhibiting XO activity may be special type of hydrogen bonds including carbon hydrogen bond interactions and attraction charge interactions.The novel tripeptide EEK is potential candidates for controlling hyperuricemia.

Determination of inhibitory activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts on xanthine oxidase with a paper-based analytical device

A novel paper-based analytical device(PAD)was prepared and applied to determine the xanthine oxidase(XOD)inhibitory activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts(SME).First,polycaprolactone was 3D printed on filter paper and heated to form hydrophobic barriers.Then the modified paper was cut according to the specific design.Necessary reagents including XOD for the colorimetric assay were immobilized on two separate pieces of paper.By simply adding phosphate buffer,the reaction was performed on the double-layer PAD.Quantitative results were obtained by analyzing the color intensity with the specialized device system(consisting of a smartphone,a detection box and sandwich plates).The 3Dprinted detection box was small,with a size of 9.0 cm×7.0 cm×11.5 cm.Color component G performed well in terms of linearity and detection limits and thus was identified as the index.The reaction conditions were optimized using a definitive screening design.Moreover,a 10%glycerol solution was found to be a suitable stabilizer.When the stabilizer was added,the activity of XOD could be maintained for at least 15 days under 4℃ or-20℃ storage conditions.The inhibitory activity of SME was investigated and compared to that of allopurinol.The results obtained with the PAD showed agreement with those obtained with the microplate method.In conclusion,the proposed PAD method is simple,accurate and has a potential for point-of-care testing.It also holds promise for use in rapid quality testing of medicinal herbs,intermediate products,and preparations of traditional Chinese medicines.

Antihyperuricemic effect of mangiferin aglycon derivative J99745 by inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity and urate transporter 1 expression in mice

A mangiferin aglycon derivative J99745 has been identified as a potent xanthine oxidase(XOD) inhibitor by previous in vitro study. This study aimed to evaluate the hypouricemic effects of J99745 in experimental hyperuricemia mice, and explore the underlying mechanisms. Mice were orally administered 600 mg/kg xanthine once daily for 7 days and intraperitoneally injected 250 mg/kg oxonic acid on the 7 th day to induce hyperuricemia. Meanwhile, J99745(3, 10, and 30 mg/kg), allopurinol(20 mg/kg) or benzbromarone(20 mg/kg) were orally administered to mice for 7 days. On the 7 th day,uric acid and creatinine in serum and urine, blood urea nitrogen(BUN), malondialdehyde(MDA) content and XOD activities in serum and liver were determined. Morphological changes in kidney were observed using hematoxylin and eosin(H&E) staining. Hepatic XOD, renal urate transporter 1(URAT1), glucose transporter type 9(GLUT9), organic anion transporter 1(OAT1) and ATP-binding cassette transporter G2(ABCG2) were detected by Western blot and real time polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The results showed that J99745 at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg significantly reduced serum urate, and enhanced fractional excretion of uric acid(FEUA). H&E staining confirmed that J99745 provided greater nephroprotective effects than allopurinol and benzbromarone. Moreover, serum and hepatic XOD activities and renal URAT1 expression declined in J99745-treated hyperuricemia mice. In consistence with the ability to inhibit XOD, J99745 lowered serum MDA content in hyperuricemia mice. Our resultssuggest that J99745 exerts urate-lowering effect by inhibiting XOD activity and URAT1 expression, thus representing a promising candidate as an anti-hyperuricemia agent.

Febuxostat, a nonpurine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase： a promising medical therapy for chronic heart failure？

Heart failure is currently one of the most common and most cost-intensive of the chronic diseases The main cause of chronic heart failure （CHF） is the abnormalities of both cardiac contractile performance and myocardial energy metabolism. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS） have been proposed to contribute to both of them. Xanthine oxidoreductase （XO） is a major source of ROS in the cardiovascular system. XO inhibitors （XOIs） have been the cornerstone of the clinical management of gout and conditions associated with hyperuricemia for several decades.

Preparation of a Xanthine Sensor Based on the Immobilization of Xanthine Oxidase on a Chitosan Modified Electrode by Cross-linking

Here in this paper, xanthine oxidase （XOD） was immobilized onto the chitosan （CHT） modified electrode by a simple way of cross-linking with glutaraldehyde （GTD） and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane （KH）. The electrode displayed a sharp peak to the oxidation of xanthine at a potential about 0.67 V and the optimum of pH for determination was investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the biosensor fabricated on the KH/GTD/XOD/CHT modified electrode showed excellent response to the oxidation of xanthine within the range of 0.5 to 18 μmol/L with a low detection limit of 0.0215 μmol/L, a good stability and a high selectivity. The sensor can also be used for the determination of hypoxantbine. The electrochemical results indicated that the immobilized enzyme still retained its biological activity and this provided a new way for the construction of biosensors and determination of xanthine.

A sensitive xanthine oxidase electrode with silk net for estimating fish freshness

An enzyme biosensor was constructed using a plate platinum electrode and immobilized xanthine oxidase (XOD). Only a very small quantity of enzyme was chemically immobilized on a special silk net. Hydrogen peroxide released during the enzymatic reaction was detected by the electrode at +0.65 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The electrode was very sensitive to hypoxanthine and its detection limit was 1X10(-7) mol/L. When it was applied to the determination of fish freshness, the results agreed well with those obtained by traditional methods-determination of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and microbial count. A range for estimating the freshness of river fish was suggested.

In vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory properties of Flos Sophorae Immaturus and potential mechanisms

Flos Sophorae Immaturus (FSI) possessed potential xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity as a uric acid-lowing natural product.The present work identified and quantified the free and bound polyphenols of FSI by UPLC-QTOF-MS.Then determined the primary polyphenols with XO inhibitory effect and clarified their potential mechanisms by omission experiment,interaction assay,inhibition type,and fluorescence measurements.The results revealed that nine polyphenols were detected in the free polyphenol extract and ten polyphenols were detected in the bound polyphenol extract.Meanwhile,seven polyphenols were identified as XO inhibitors,including quercetin,kaempferol,isorhamnetin,rutin,hyperoside,protocatechuic acid,and quercitrin with the IC50 values of 0.03,0.11,0.07,5.62,11.48,22.13,and 367.82 mg/mL,but their inhibition stability was lower than 24 h.Although the content of quercetin (18.87 mg/g) was not the highest,it played a crucial role to the XO inhibitory effect of FSI.Furthermore,kaempferol and isorhamnetin alone revealed the sub-additive effect with quercetin,while the combination of other polyphenols with quercetin generated the interference or antagonism effects.Quercetin,isorhamnetin,and kaempferol were mixed-type and competitive inhibitors,which significantly quenched the fluorescence intensity of XO.Moreover,the binding processes of quercetin-XO,kaempferol-XO,and isorhamnetin-XO were spontaneous and endothermic,and the hydrophobic interaction was the key driving force.In general,quercetin,kaempferol,and isorhamnetin in FSI can be used as potential XO inhibitors.

Delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside: a novel xanthine oxidase inhibitor identified from natural anthocyanins

Objectives:This study was conducted to investigate the xanthine oxidase(XO)inhibitory activities of 18 monomeric anthocyanins from berry fruits and roselle,and to illustrate the underlying mechanism of the most active anthocyanin delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside.Materials and Methods:Eighteen monomeric anthocyanins were prepared and purified in our laboratory.The inhibitory properties of anthocyanins were investigated by in vitro inhibitory activity studies and fluorescence quenching studies;the inhibitory mechanism was explored through kinetic studies,fluorescence quenching studies,circular dichroism analysis and computational docking simulations.Results:XO inhibitory activities of anthocyanins were related to the structures of B rings and glycosides.Among all the tested anthocyanins,delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside showed the most potent inhibitory activity with an IC_(50) of 17.1μmol/L,which was comparable to the positive control allopurinol.Spectroscopic results revealed that delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside could spontaneously interact with XO and induce conformational changes.Computational docking study indicated that delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside could bind to XO with a proper orientation,stably formed π-π interactions and hydrogen bonds with key residues,thus preventing the substrate from entering the active pocket.Conclusions:In brief,our study identified delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside as a potent XO inhibitor from natural anthocyanins,which is potentially applicable for prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia.

Pueraria isoflavones inhibit XOD and GLUT9 to decrease uric acid production and promote uric acid excretion, respectively

Objective: To analyze the possible mechanism of Pueraria isoflavones inhibiting XOD and GLUT9 to reduce uric acid production and promote uric acid excretion. Methods: August 2021-April 2022, a total of forty SPF male Kunming mice were divided into the healthy group (carboxymethylcellulose sodium at a dose of 250 mg/kg), the model group (HUA mice were given carboxymethylcellulose sodium at a dose of 250 mg/kg), the low group (HUA mice were given pueraria isoflavone at a dose of 125 mg/kg), HUA mice were given pueraria isoflavones at a dose of 250 mg/kg once d frequency)and the high group (HUA mice were given pueraria isoflavones at a dose of 500 mg/kg once d frequency) dosage groups, with 8 mice in each group. The contents of uric acid (SUA), urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (SCr) in serum and urine of each group were compared before and after intervention (30 d). Statistical differences of xanthine oxidase (XOD) and human glucose transporter 9(GLUT9), cy- clooxygenase- 2(COX-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1β) contents in renal tissues of each group after intervention (30 d) were compared. Results: After intervention, kidney inflammatory factors (COX-2, TNF-α and IL-1β) in the model group were compared. Blood and urine indexes (SUA, BUN, SCr);The contents of XOD and GLUT9 were higher than those of healthy group(P<0.05). Renal inflammatory cytokines (COX-2, TNF-α and IL-1β) in low, medium and high dose groups;Blood and urine indexes (SUA, BUN, SCr);The contents of XOD and GLUT9 were lower than those of model group, and there were low > medium > high dose groups, the comparison between the two groups had statistical significance(P< 0.05). After intervention, the contents of 3 indicators in blood or urine(COX-2, TNF-α and IL-1β) all decreased compared with before intervention, and the differences in intra-group comparison were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Pueraria isoflavones can treat HUA mice by inhibiting the expression of XOD and GLUT9, and then play a role in reducing uric acid pro- duction and promoting uric acid excretion, as well as alleviating the degree of disease inflammation.

Protection of PC12 Cells against Superoxide-induced Damage by Isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus

Objective To further investigate the neuroprotective effects of five isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus on xanthine （XA）/xanthine oxidase （XO）-induced injury to PC12 cells. Methods PC12 cells were damaged by XA/XO. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, MTT, LDH, and GSH assays were used to evaluate the protection of these five isofavonoids. Contents of Bcl-2 family proteins were determined with flow cytometry. Results Among the five isoflavonoids including formononetin, ononin, 9, 10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-β-D-glucoside, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside were found to inhibit XA/XO-induced injury to PC12 cells. Their ECs0values of formononetin and calycosin were 0.05 μg/mL. Moreover, treatment with these three isoflavonoids prevented a decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）, while formononetin and calycosin could prevent a significant deletion of GSH. In addition, only calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside were shown to inhibit XO activity in cell-free system, with an approximate IC50 value of 10 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL. Formononetin and calycosin had no significant infuence on Bcl-2 or Bax protein contents. Conclusion Neuroprotection of formononetin, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside may be mediated by increasing endogenous antioxidants, rather by inhibiting XO activities or by scavenging free radicals.

Effect of methylmercury on LPO levels, SH groups and activities of GSH-Px, SOD, XOD in liver of rats

In recent years, lipid peroxidation has been considered as the initial step for foreign toxic substances to damage cells. In this paper, the effects of methylmercury (MeHg) on LPO (lipid peroxide) levels, SH (sulfhydryl) groups and activities of GSH\|Px (glutathione peroxidase), SOD (superoxide dismutase), XOD (xanthine oxidase) in liver of rats treated with doses of MeHg at different intervals were studied by TBA, Ellman Reagent, NBT colorimetric methods and chemilluminescence. Meanwhile, the contents of FR (free radical)and MeHg in the liver of female rats were measured by ESR and GC. Results showed that the LPO levels in the experimental group increased significantly over those of the control group ( p<0.05— p<0.001) , reaching maximum point on the first poisoning day. Both male and female rats showed marked positive dose\|effect relations (Male: Y=261.4±49.4X, r=0.94, p<0.02; Female : Y=255.0±73.0X, r=0.99, p<0.001 ). N-SH (nonprotein sulfhydryl), P\|SH (protein sulfhydryl), T-SH (total sulfhydryl) contents and GSH\|Px activities decreased significantly (p<0.05-p<0.001). For GSH\|Px, both groups reached minimum value on the first poisoning day. In female rats, activities of SOD and XOD increased markedly ( p<0.02-p<0.01 ) although the contents of FR showed no significant changes. The contents of MeHg was determined by GC, and it ranged from 0.0081—0.0191 ppm.

Anti-epileptic effect of morin against experimental pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures via modulating brain monoamines and oxidative stress

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of morin against pentylenetetrazol(PTZ)-induced tonic-clonic convulsions in mice. Methods: Swiss albino mice(18-22 g) was used to induce convulsions by intraperitoneal(i.p.) administration of PTZ(90 mg/kg). Mice were either pretreated with morin(10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) or vehicle(distilled water, 10 mg/kg) 45 min before PTZ administration. Various behavioral and biochemical parameters were assessed. Results: PTZ administration resulted in significant production(P<0.001) of tonic-clonic conclusion and mortality in mice. PTZ-induced increase in the duration of convulsion, onset of convulsion and mortality was inhibited significantly by morin(20 and 40 mg/kg) administration. The PTZinduced decrease in brain GABA, dopamine and Na+K+ATPase levels and increase in xanthine oxidase activity were inhibited significantly by morin(20 and 40 mg/kg) treatment. The increased levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide level were significantly decreased by morin(20 and 40 mg/kg) treatment. Also, reduced levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione were increased significantly by morin treatment. Conclusions: Results of the present study indicate that morin showed its anti-convulsant effect via modulating the levels of brain GABA, Na^+K^+ATPase, and oxido-nitrosative stress. Thus, morin can be a potential candidate for further clinical evaluations as an anti-epileptic agent.

The Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Serum AMS,LPS and XOD of Piglets with Spleen Deficiency

[Objective] The experiment aimed to determine the effect of Guchangcuzhangsan on serum amylase, lipase and xanthine oxidase of piglets with spleen deficiency. [ Method] The model of piglets with spleen deficiency was produced by the methods of injecting reserpine into piglets, and alternating between no feed and good feed. The determinations of serum amylase, lipase and xanthine oxidase of piglets with spleen deficiency were done before injecting reserpine, on the day when reserpine was injected last time, the next day of finishing giving powder, the eighth day after finishing giving powder. [ Result] After the experiment was finished, all 3 enzymes activities of Guchangcuzhangsan group had no significant differ- ence from that of normal contrast group, enzyme activities of spleen deficiency group and smecta group had significant difference compared with that of normal contrast group. [ Conclusion] Guchangcuzhangsan can promote the recovery of serum amylase, lipase and xanthine oxidase of piglets with spleen deficiency which was caused by reserpine.

High uric acid model in Caenorhabditis elegans

To establish experimental high uric acid model in C.elegans.Hypoxanthine,adenine,xanthine,and uric acid were used to treat C.elegans and then hyperuricemic C.elegans was evaluated by allopurinol.Hyperuricemic C.elegans were obtained after normal worms were treated by xanthine(0.25 mg/mL,18 h).For hyperuricemic worms,there was a statistically significant increase in the uric acid level(p<0.001)and a lower drug damage(p>0.05).Moreover,the model was proved to keep a high uric acid level for up to 12 h.After given allopurinol(0.25 mg/mL,12 h),the uric acid of hyperuricemic C.elegans had a significant reduction by 15%.Furthermore,xanthine oxidase activity in hyperuricemic C.elegans showed a statistically significant increase(p<0.001),which resulted in a raised uric acid content.A high uric acid model with low drug damage and high efficiency and stability was established in C.elegans after simply xanthine treatment.

A review: effect and mechanism of plant extracts rich in polyphenols on reducing uric acid activity

Hyperuricemia is a metabolic condition caused by the increase of uric acid level in the body,which can lead to gout,kidney disease,cardiovascular disease,hypertension and diabetes.In recent years,the incidence rate of hyperuricemia has been increasing and gradually becoming younger.Allopurinol and febuxostat are commonly used drugs to reduce the level of uric acid in the body.Although these drugs have good curative effect,they can produce adverse reactions.Therefore,it has been the focus of attention to find appropriate treatment and new drugs to reduce serum uric acid level.Natural plants have become the source of new drugs for their multiple biological activities,strong efficacy and minimal side effects.More and more studies have shown that natural plant extracts rich in phenols,flavonoids and other active components can significantly reduce the level of uric acid,and improve the complications caused by high uric acid.In this paper,hyperuricemia related diseases,functional plants rich in polyphenols with the effect of reducing uric acid and the mechanism of their active components were reviewed.

Xanthine Biosensor Based on Didodecyldimethylammonium Bromide Modified Pyrolytic Graphite Electrode

The vesicle of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) which containedtetrathiafulvalene (TTF) was mixed with xanthine oxidase, and the mixture was cast on the pyrolyticgraphite electrode. The lipid films were used to supply a biological environment resemblingbiomembrane on the surface of the electrode. TTF was used as a mediator because of its highelectron-transfer efficiency. A novel xanthine biosensor based on cast DDAB film was developed. Theeffects of pH and operating potential were explored for optimum analytical performance by using theamperometric method. The response time of the biosensor was less than 10 s. The detection limit ofthe biosensor was 3.2 x 10^(-7) mol/L and the liner range was from 4 x 10^(-7) mol/L to 2.4 x10^(-6) mol/L.

Screening the anti-gout traditional herbs from TCM using an in vitro method

The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of 33 herbal extracts in inhibiting the acute inflammation and xanthine oxidase （XOD） activity. The anti-inflammation effects of the herbal extracts were detected by an in vitro cell model, which was established by stimulating human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVEC） using sodium urate （MSU）. In this model, the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1） and interleukin-1 beta （IL-1β） were expressed, and the anti-inflammation effects of herbal extracts were evaluated by detecting the content changes of ICAM-1 and IL-1β in cell lysates and cell culture supernates using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Moreover, an ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS） method was used for the detection of XOD activity and the screening of XOD inhibitors in this research. The amount of uric acid from each analyte was directly detected using the multiple reaction monitoring mode and the uric acid level could be reduced via the addition of an inhibitor. Results indicated that Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizome, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Selaginellae Herba, Paeoniae Radix Rubra, especially Ginkgo Folium seemed to be more effective in anti-inflammation and inhibiting XOD activity. The anti-inflammation and enzyme inhibitory activities of the herbal extracts may be correlated with their bioactive components. And the differences between the herbal extracts were correlated with the amount of flavonoid and anthraquinone components. In our study, we have investigated the potential anti-inflammation bioactivity of 33 herbal extracts in vitro, which could provide a reference for further in vivo research in the orevention and treatment of gout.

Effect of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati and Ramulus Cinnamomi Compatibility on Uric Acid Metabolism and Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Kidney Injury Molecule-1 in Rats with Hyperuricemia

Objective：To explore the effects of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati and Ramulus Cinnamomicompatibility（PR） on uric acid metabolism and the expression of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin（NGAL） and kidney injury molecule-1（KIM-1） in rats with hyperuricemia. Methods：Seventy male Sprague Dawley（SD） rats were randomly divided into 7 groups with 10 rats per group, including the normal group, model group, allopurinol group, benzbromarone group and PR groups at 3 doses（3.5, 7, 14 g/kg）. Except the normal group, rats of the other groups were intragastrically administered 100 mg/kg hypoxanthine and 250 mg/kg ethambutol, and subcutaneously injected with 200 mg/kg potassium oxonate. All rats were continuously modeled for 17 days, and gavaged with corresponding drugs. The rats of the normal and model groups were gavaged with saline, once a day, for 2 weeks. The levels of serum uric acid（SUA）, blood urea nitrogen（BUN） and creatinine（Cr） were determined. In addition, the contents of NGAL and KIM-1 in urine and the m RNA and protein expressions of xanthine oxidase（XOD） in liver of hyperuricemia rats were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR） and Western blot, respectively. Moreover, the pathological changes of kidney were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin（HE） stain method. Results：Compared with the normal group, the levels of SUA, BUN, NGAL and KIM-1 and the expressions of hepatic XOD m RNA and protein in the hyperuricemia rats were increased significantly（P〈0.01）. PR significantly decreased the levels of SUA, BUN, NGAL and KIM-1 and down-regulated the m RNA and protein expressions of hepatic XOD（P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. In addition, the pathological changes of kidney were significantly suppressed by oral administration of PR. Conclusions：PR ameliorated uric acid metabolism and protected renal function, the underlying mechanism was mediated by decreasing the levels of SUA, BUN, NGAL and KIM-1, inhibiting the expression of hepatic XOD and ameliorating the pathological change of kidney.

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Flavane Derivatives

An efficient and feasible synthetic approach was developed for the synthesis of an array of new flavane derivafives from the substituted benzaldehyde with the reduction of chalcones and subsequent cyclization as the key steps. The purity and structure of the products were confirmed by the elemental analysis and a combination of its IR, ^1H and ^13C NMR, and mass spectra. These synthetic compounds were tested for xanthine oxidase （XO） inhibitions and antifungal actions against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus sp. and Trichophyton rubrum. 7-Hydrazinocarbonylmethoxy-4＇-methoxyflavane （9） was found to be the most XO inhibitory with IC50=76.4 μmol/L, and the most potent antifungal compound was 4＇-hydrazinocarbonylmethoxyflavane （12） with minimal inhibition concentration MIC=8 μg/mL against Trichophyton rubrum.