Lycopodium clavatum as an inhibitor of monosodium urate crystallisation in gout: An in vitro study

Abstract

Background: Hyperuricaemia plays a significant role in the development and pathogenesis of several metabolic and systemic disorders including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, stroke and atherosclerosis. Lycopodium clavatum is the most widely used drug in homoeopathy for treating hyperuricaemia and gout. However, its mechanism of action in reducing serum uric acid remains uncertain. Objective: The objective of the study was to study the potential role of homoeopathic preparation of Lycopodium clavatum in different potencies on monosodium urate crystallisation in vitro. Methods: Spectrophotometric crystallisation assay was carried out on a stock solution of 5 ml of uric acid after its preparation. The time course of the optical density was measured in a standard solution and values were measured every 5 min after agitation with cyclo-vortex mixer. The optical density values were also measured in the homoeopathic preparation of Lycopodium clavatum in different potencies with same method. Inhibiting effect of this medicine was found from graphs by measuring slope of nucleation and aggregation from optical density value and the percentage inhibition exerted by the proteins was calculated. Results: Spectrophotometric analysis showed all potencies of Lycopodium clavatum inhibited aggregation of monosodium urate crystals with a maximum inhibition at 200C and 1M potency. Conclusion: We found that the homoeopathic medicine Lycopodium clavatum could be effective in inhibiting the formation of monosodium urate crystals in vitro and also causes the dissolution of crystals, especially in high potencies. Further studies are required to understand the exact mechanism of action