(66(4):333-342) Inhibitory Activity of Alpinia galanga Rhizomes on Xanthine Oxidase

Abstract

高尿酸血症易引發痛風、糖尿病等多項代謝異常疾病。抑制黃嘌呤氧化酶 (xanthine oxidase; XO) 可抑制體內尿酸合成，緩和高尿酸血症。本研究選擇24 種本土青草藥材料，以其酒精及水萃物測試抑制XO之活性，結果顯示大南薑 (Alpinia galanga Willd.) 之酒精萃取物具有最佳活性，仙草 (Mesona procumbens Hemsl.) 之「台E」品系亦稍具有活性。大南薑根莖酒精萃取物中的活性物質經氣相層析質譜儀 (gas chromatography-mass spectrum; GC-MS) 分析，顯示其抑制XO 活性的主要成分可能是 (1’S)-1’-acetoxychavicol acetate 及p-coumaryl diacetate。過去文獻證實這兩種化合物與目前治療高尿酸血症的藥物allopurinol 具有相仿之XO 抑制活性，顯示大南薑具有開發為調節尿酸產品或新藥之潛力。 Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for causing gout, diabetes and some metabolic diseases. The reduction of uric-acid biosynthesis and alleviating the symptom of hyperuricemia may be intervened by inhibiting the xanthine oxidase (XO) activity. In this study, the XO inhibitory activity of ethanol or water extracts of 24 indigenous medical plants were evaluated. Results showed that the ethanol extract of Alpinia galanga rhizomes possessed the best XO inhibitory activity. The ethanol extract of Mesona procumbens line ‘Tai E’ showed mild activity as well. The active XO inhibitors in the A. galangal rhizomes were suggested to be (1’S)-1’-acetoxychavicol acetate and p-coumaryl diacetate based on the analytical results of gas chromatography-mass spectrum (GC-MS). Both compounds were reported exhibiting similar XO inhibitory activities as allopurinol, a common medicine for hyperuricemia treatment. These results suggest that A. galanga is a potential herb for developing functional food or therapeutic agent to regulate the biosynthesis of uric acid