Xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of Myrmecodia platytyrea tuber extracts / Nur Shahirah Mohd Shaharudin

Many chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson disease are oxidative stress-related. Oxidative stress is an imbalance of production of free radicals and its defense mechanisms, favouring the former. Oxidative stress causes tissue injuries and leads to the development of many disorders. An antioxidant is an agent that can prevent oxidative stress. It can stop, prevent or delay the oxidisable material oxidation by oxidative stress reduction and scavenging of free radicals. Phytocontituents in many medicinal plants are actually useful for scavenging the free radicals. Myrmecodia platytyrea subp. Antoinii (Becc.) Huxley & Jebb is an epiphytic plant found in the tropical forest of the Southeast Asia and large islands extending south to Queensland in Australia. Myrmecodia spp. has been used traditionally in the Southern Asia, for diarrhea, peptic ulcer, swelling, tuberculosis, headaches and hemorrhoids treatments as a decoction. It also can be used to manage cancer, coronary heart disease and hyperuricaemia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of various extracts of Myrmecodia platytyrea tuber to inhibit excess production of uric acid which is associated with gout. The xanthine oxidase inhibitory (XOI) activity of crude methanol extract, as well as hexane, ethyl acetate and aqueous of Myrmecodia platytyrea tuber were investigated. It was found that methanol extract had the highest percentage of inhibition compared to other extracts with 102.35±5.55 % at the concentration of 100 µg/m.L. Furthermore, all extracts were comparable to allopurinol (103.44 ± 5.55 % inhibition at 100 µg/mL), which is the standard reference used in this assay. In conclusion, extracts of Myrmecodia platytyrea tuber have potent XOI activity comparable to allopurinol. This may warrant more attention for natural sources to be recognised as a remedy for gout.