The extract of the carpetweed shows potential in preventing gout

The extract of Mollugo pentaphylla (MPE) or the five-leafed carpetweed has benefits for sufferers of gout, according to a study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

The research was funded by a grant from the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine.

• The researchers induced gouty arthritis in a mouse model by injecting a uric acid or monosodium urate (MSU) crystal suspension into the animals’ right paw.
• They divided the mice into five with five members each: the control group, an MSU crystal group with MSU injection, two groups treated with different doses of MPE (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) with MSU crystal injection, and a group treated with colchicine (1 mg/kg) with MSU crystal injection.
• They determined the effects of MPE on inflammation and pain using a weight-bearing activity. The expression of inflammatory cytokine and paw tissue inflammation-related genes were also evaluated.
• MPE inhibited the production of inflammation-related factors TNF-?, interleukin (IL)-1B, NLRP3 inflammasome, and NF-KB. This caused a reduction in both inflammation and pain.

The researchers concluded that MPE possesses anti-inflammatory properties that make it a potential therapeutic agent against gout.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Find other remedies for gout and arthritis at Remedies.news.

Journal Reference:

Lee YM, Shon EJ, Kim OS, Kim DS. EFFECTS OF MOLLUGO PENTAPHYLLA EXTRACT ON MONOSODIUM URATE CRYSTAL-INDUCED GOUTY ARTHRITIS IN MICE. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 6 September 2017;17(447). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1955-1