Research has provided scientific evidence of the use of Gnaphalium pensylvanicum willd. for treating hyperuricemia and acute gouty arthritis. The study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, has found that the plant’s extract has active agents that can help treat hyperuricemia and acute gouty arthritis.

• A team of researchers in China investigated the ability of G. pensylvanicum to treat hyperuricemia and acute gouty arthritis in an animal model.
• For the study, the research team induced hyperuricemia in mice using potassium oxinate, while acute gouty arthritis was induced by hypodermic injection of 10 milligrams (mg) of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal suspension in paw edema model.
• Then, they administered G. pensylvanicum extract to the mice to evaluate the plant’s anti-hyperuricemia activity and xanthine oxidase inhibition.
• Based on the results, G. pensylvanicum extracts reduced serum uric acid by regulating the levels of renal glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), and urate transporter 1 (URAT1) primarily and suppressed xanthine oxidase activity in vivo of mice with potassium oxide induced hyperuricemia.
• In addition, the extract of G. pensylvanicum also exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity and reduced the paw swelling on MSU crystal-induced paw edema model.
• Moreover, the main active component of G. pensylvanicum were 13 caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and one flavone.

In conclusion, G. pensylvanicum extracts can be considered as a promising treatment for hyperuricemia and gout.

For the full text of the study, go to this link.

Journal Reference:

Jiang Y, Hu YJ, Song XJ, Pan HH, Zhang HJ. CAFFEOYLQUINIC ACID DERIVATIVES RICH EXTRACT FROM GNAPHALIUM PENSYLVANICUM WILLD. AMELIORATES HYPERURICEMIA AND ACUTE GOUTY ARTHRITIS IN ANIMAL MODEL. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017; 17(320). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1834-9