Identifying the natural compounds in Jinqian Xuduan Decoction for simultaneous uric acid lowering and chronic kidney disease amelioration.

INTRODUCTION

Hyperuricemia (HUA) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are prevalent metabolic disorders worldwide. Current therapeutic approaches have inherent limitations, making the exploration and development of natural medicines based on traditional Chinese medicine (EDNM-TCM) highly promising. Jinqian Xuduan decoction (JXD) is utilized for reducing uric acid and ameliorating CKD, but its underlying mechanism remains elusive, and no EDNM-TCM studies on it have hitherto been conducted.

PURPOSE: The primary aims of this study were to investigate the mechanism of JXD lowering uric acid and to identify natural lead compounds with multiple efficacies from JXD.

METHODS

The mechanism of JXD in reducing uric acid was explored by employing a CKD mouse model induced by HUA. The active components within JXD that could concurrently lower uric acid and improve chronic kidney disease were screened and verified via integrative pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation. The effects of these components on reducing uric acid and improving chronic kidney disease were verified through both in vivo and in vitro experiments, and their mechanisms were preliminarily explored.

RESULTS

JXD significantly reduces uric acid by inhibiting its production and enhancing excretion. It mitigates CKD by reducing renal cell apoptosis and fibrosis. Nine promising compounds were identified, among which three compounds-cryptochlorogenic acid, magnoflorine, and isochlorogenic acid C-significantly reduced uric acid levels in HUA mice by promoting excretion and alleviating CKD.

CONCLUSION

This study significantly expands the understanding of natural medicines based on traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of HUA and CKD by thoroughly exploring the mechanisms of JXD. For the first time, it systematically screened and verified the key active components in JXD using integrative pharmacology, identifying three compounds with significant uric acid-lowering and anti-CKD effects-cryptochlorogenic acid, magnoflorine and isochlorogenic acid C. These findings not only enrich the scientific connotations of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of metabolic diseases but also provide important references for future research and clinical applications of new drugs.