Malic Acid Attenuates Potassium Oxonate Induced Gouty Inflammation in Wistar Rat

Abstract

Malic acid is an organic dicarboxylic acid commonly found in vegetables and fruits. Gouty inflammation is a disease characterized by the accumulation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals around the tissues and joints. Hence, the current study has been conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of the malic acid against the potassium oxonate (PO) induced animal model. The hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of malic acid in treating gouty inflammation. The elevated levels of various biological markers such as liver injury markers (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin), renal function markers (urea, creatinine, uric acid), inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factors) and blood markers (hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and white blood cells were observed in PO induced rats. Histological analysis also revealed inflammation in the ankle joint of PO-treated rats. The malic acid (25,50,100mg/kg bwt) treatment made the rats regain the biological markers near to their normal values. It was revealed that the malic acid had potential anti-gouty inflammatory activity against PO induced rat model. Hence, malic acid can be proposed as an excellent drug molecule with detailed examinations.