Effects of Yokuininto on gout flare and renal injury

A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine looked at the effects of a Kampo medicine on kidney injury and gout caused by high levels of uric acid. This study was conducted by researchers at the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine in South Korea.

• Prolonged hyperuricemia – abnormally high level of uric acid – is associated with kidney disease or gouty arthritis (gout).
• For the study, the researchers used Yokuininto, a commercially available Kampo medicine that has been used for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
• They tested whether Yokuininto can exhibit anti-hyperuricemic and anti-inflammatory effects on hyperuricemic mice.
• The results showed that the Kampo medicine significantly reduced serum uric acid levels by 44 percent.
• It worked by blocking pro-inflammatory cytokine activities and inducing uricosuric function with anti-renal injury functions.
• The Kampo medicine both increased uric acid excretion and decreased uric acid production.
• These results suggested that Yokuininto may inhibit inflammation and protect against kidney dysfunction in hyperuricemia.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that Yokuininto may be used as a preventive treatment for kidney injury brought about by high uric acid levels.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Lee SH, Lee HS, Park G, Oh SM, Oh DS. DUAL ACTIONS ON GOUT FLARE AND ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY ALONG WITH ENHANCED RENAL TRANSPORTER ACTIVITIES BY YOKUININTO, A KAMPO MEDICINE. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 12 March 2019; 19(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2469-9