A Review of Medicinal Plants and Phytochemicals for the Management of Gout

Mohammad Hosein Frazaei; Roghayeh Nouri; Reza Aref Nezhad; Pardis Mohammadi Pour; Maryam Naseri; Shirin Assar

doi:10.2174/0115733971268037230920072503

A Review of Medicinal Plants and Phytochemicals for the Management of Gout

Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2023 Oct 11. doi: 10.2174/0115733971268037230920072503. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mohammad Hosein Frazaei¹, Roghayeh Nouri¹, Reza Aref Nezhad², Pardis Mohammadi Pour³, Maryam Naseri¹, Shirin Assar⁴

Affiliations

¹ Medical Technology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
² Anatomical Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
³ Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

PMID: 37828678
DOI: 10.2174/0115733971268037230920072503

Abstract

Gout, characterized by elevated uric acid levels, is a common inflammatory joint disease associated with pain, joint swelling, and bone erosion. Existing treatments for gout often result in undesirable side effects, highlighting the need for new, safe, and cost-effective anti-gout drugs. Natural products, including medicinal plants and phytochemicals, have gained attention as potential sources of anti-gout compounds. In this review, we examined articles from 2000 to 2020 using PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on the effectiveness of medicinal plants and phytochemicals in managing gout. Our findings identified 14 plants and nine phytochemicals with antigout properties. Notably, Teucrium polium, Prunus avium, Smilax riparia, Rhus coriaria, Foeniculum vulgare, Allium cepa, Camellia japonica, and Helianthus annuus exhibited the highest xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, attributed to their unique natural bioactive compounds such as phenolics, tannins, coumarins, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Herbal plants and their phytochemicals have demonstrated promising effects in reducing serum urate and inhibiting xanthine. This review aims to report recent studies on plants/phytochemicals derived from herbs beneficial in gout and their different mechanisms.

Keywords: anti-gout; gout; herb; natural product; phytochemicals; plant.