SU M M A RYNine Hypericum species (H. barbatum, H. hirsutum, H. linarioides, H. olympicum, H. perforatum, H. rochelii, H. rumeliacum, H. tetrapterum and H. umbellatum) collected in Serbia were assayed for inhibitory potential against xanthine oxidase in vitro, on the commercial enzyme, and compared with allopurinol. Seven studied Hypericum species (H. barbatum, H. rochelii, H. rumeliacum, H. umbellatum, H. perforatum, H. tetrapterum and H. olympicum) inhibit commercial xanthine oxidase with an IC50 below 100 µg/mL. H. barbatum exerted the most potent inhibitory effect (IC50 = 31.84 ± 6.64 µg/mL), followed closely by H. perforatum (IC50 = 37.12 ± 4.06 µg/mL).
Key words: xanthine oxidase inhibition, Hypericum, secondary metabolites
O r i g i n a l a r t i c l e
276Acta facultatis medicae Naissensis 2017; 34(3): 275-281
I NT ROD U CT I ONXanthine oxidase (XO) is a validated target for therapeutic treatment of gout, hyperuricemia and associated conditions, with a few XO inhibitors present on the market (1). Levels of XO in plasma are enhanced also in ischemia-reperfusion injury, hemorrhagic shock, cholecystis, hypercholesterolemia, adult respiratory distress syndrome, carcinogenesis, which provides additional indications where XO inhibitors may exert their therapeutic potential (2).Secondary metabolites from plants have a long tradition of being used as therapeutics in medicine (3). Hypericum species are traditionally used as medicinal plants all over the world (4). H. perforatum (St. John's wort) is one of the best chemically determined species. The investigation of Hypericum species have increased over the years due to evidenced bioactivities of compounds found in H. perforatum. Chemically, naphthodianthrones, primarily hypericin and pseudohypericin, phloroglucinol derivatives, especially hyperforin, and flavonoids quercetin, quercitrin, hyperoside and rutin represent the main constituents in the Hypericum species (5).Continuing our research on the chemical composition (6-11) and pharmacological activities (11)(12)(13)(14) of Hypericum species, in the present study extracts of nine Hypericum species (H. barbatum, H. hirsutum, H. linarioides, H. olympicum, H. perforatum, H. rochelii, H. rumeliacum, H. tetrapterum and H. umbellatum), collected in Serbia, were evaluated for inhibitory potential against XO in vitro, on the commercial enzyme. Table 1 contains data on the identity of nine assayed Hypericum species, their taxonomic placement within sections of the genus Hypericum, voucher numbers of the deposited herbarium specimens (Herbarium Moesicum Doljevac, Serbia), collection period and locality (15). Collection was done in the blooming stage.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant material
Preparation of plant extractsThe extractions were performed using 3 g dry plant material and 30 mL of ethanol, using an indirect sonication method. Sonications lasted 30 min, using a Bandelin Sonorex Digital 10 P apparatus (Bandelin). At the end of extraction, filtration was done in order to separate the extracts from the residual plan...