Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity of Paronychia argentea L.

Given the lack of synthetic xanthine oxidase inhibitors, the associated enzyme with several common diseases along with the side effects and adverse reactions of existing medications, it became necessary to explore herbal remedies as alternative treatment options. Paronychia argentea L. was selected for this study due to its traditional use in medicine throughout the Mediterranean region. The objective of the study was to evaluate the xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of various extracts from Paronychia argentea L. and to compare these effects with allopurinol, a widely used xanthine oxidase inhibitor (XOI). Aerial parts of Paronychia argentea L. were collected in Hama, Syria. Extracts were prepared from the dried plant using ethanolic, aqueous-chloroform, and chloroform solvents. The xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity was assessed spectrophotometrically by measuring absorbance at 295nm, which correlates with uric acid concentrations. (IC₅₀) concentrations that inhibit 50% of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity were adopted for comparison between extracts and allopurinol. Paronychia argentea L. showed xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. The highest inhibitory activity was for aqueous-chloroform extract followed by ethanolic extract and chloroform extract respectively. The IC₅₀ value for allopurinol was (2.973μg/ml), while it was (11.759μg/ml), (78.87μg/ml), and (376.06μg/ml) for aqueous-chloroform, ethanolic, and chloroform extracts respectively. Based on these results, Paronychia argentea L. has a considerable xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, making it a potential source for future treatment of hyperuricemia, gout and related diseases, which is consistent with its traditional use in the Mediterranean region.