Objective The present study is to determine the potential treatment effects of ethyl acetate fraction of Tephrosia pu rpurea Linn. leaves (EATP) against gout. Methods Gout in experimental rats was induced with potassium oxonate at the dose of 250 mg/kg (intraperitoneal inje ction) for 7 consecutive days; EATP was administered 1 h after administration of the potassium oxonate on e ach day of experiment. Potassium oxonate was discontinued on the 8th day; thereafter allopurinol (10 mg/kg, p.o) and EATP (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) were continued until day 14. The uric acid level was measured from serum and urine during the experiment. Other biochemical parameters were assessed, including blood and uri ne creatinine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and total protein. Blood urea nitrogen, serum glutamic-oxalo acetic transaminase, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were also measured. The b lood was analyzed for levels of malondialdehyde and the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, c atalase and glutathione peroxidase. Histopathological and radiological changes in the ankle of rats were ob served after completion of the experiment. Results EATP was able to decrease serum uric acid and creatinine level; it also reduced inflammation, oxidative str ess and lysosomal enzyme level, which has a role in acute inflammation. EATP increased uric acid excretion through urine due to its uricosuric effect. Conclusion EATP lowered the serum uric acid level and increased the urine uric acid level through excretion, which is useful in the treatment of gout. Hence the EATP was found to be helpful in the treatment of gout.

Key words: Gout, Potassium oxonate, Ethyl acetate fraction, Tephrosia purpurea Linn. leaves, Uric acid deposition, Radiological evaluationAllopu