Corn Silk Flavonoids Ameliorate Hyperuricemia via PI3K/AKT/NF-κB Pathway

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2023-06, Vol.71 (24), p.9429-9440
• Main Authors: Wang, Xizhu, Dong, Liu, Dong, Yifei, Bao, Zhijie, Lin, Songyi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioactive Constituents, Metabolites, and Functions; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Humans; Hyperuricemia - metabolism; Inflammation - drug therapy; NF-kappa B - genetics; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - genetics; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism; Silk - adverse effects; Uric Acid - metabolism; Xanthine Oxidase; Zea mays - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c03422

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a widespread metabolic disease marked by an elevated level of uric acid, and is a risk factor for premature death. The protective effect of corn silk flavonoids (CSF) against HUA and its potential mechanisms were explored. Five important apoptosis and inflammation-related signaling pathways were identified by network pharmacological analysis. The CSF exhibited significant uric acid (UA)-lowering activity in vitro by decreasing xanthine oxidase (XOD) and increasing hypoxanthine–guanine phosphoribosyl transferase levels. In a potassium oxonate-induced HUA in vivo, CSF treatment effectively inhibited XOD activity and promoted UA excretion. Furthermore, it decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 and restored pathological damage. In summary, CSF is a functional food component to improve HUA by reducing inflammation and apoptosis through the down-regulating PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway.