Considering the global health threat posed by kidney disease burden, a search for new nephroprotective drugs from our local flora could prove a powerful strategy to respond to this health threat. In this study we investigated the antihyperuricemic and nephroprotective potential of RA-3, a plant-derived lanosteryl triterpene. The antihyperuricemic and nephroprotective effect of RA-3 was investigated using the adenine and gentamicin induced hyperuricemic and nephrotoxicity rat model. Following the induction of hyperuricemia and nephrotoxicity, the experimental model rats (Sprague Dawley) were orally administered with RA-3 at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively, daily for 14 days. Treatment of the experimental rats with RA-3, especially at 100 mg/kg, effectively lowered the serum renal dysfunction (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) and hyperuricemic (uric acid and xanthine oxidase) biomarkers. These were accompanied by increased antioxidant status with decrease in malondialdehyde content. A much improved histomorphological structure of the kidney tissues was also observed in the triterpene treated groups when compared to the model control group. It is evident that RA-3 possesses the antihyperuricemic and nephroprotective properties, which could be vital for prevention and amelioration of kidney disease.
Keywords: RA-3; antioxidant; hyperuricemia; nephrotoxicity; triterpene.