Abstract Flos Sophorae Immaturus (FSI) is usually used as a uric acid (UA)-lowering food in Chinese folk. However, the UA-lowering mechanism of FSI and the effect of processing methods on its UA-lowering ability are still unclear. Herein, the hyperuricemia mice model was established and treated with purified FSI polyphenols before and after ultrasound-assisted heating treatment (UAHT). Results showed that FSI polyphenols possessed significant xanthine oxidase (XOD) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) inhibitory activities after UAHT, thereby blocking UA production. FSI after UAHT (200 and 500 mg/kg) alleviated hyperuricemia in mice by improving kidney oxidative stress and regulating kidney urate transporter expression. Thus, the restoration of kidney injury was also an important pathway through which FSI polyphenols alleviate hyperuricemia. Interestingly, quercetin exhibited better anti-hyperuricemia effect in vivo and in vitro. The increase in quercetin content was positively correlated with the UAHT‑mediated enhancement of the anti‑hyperuricemia effect of FSI polyphenols. In general, modifying the polyphenol composition of FSI through processing to further enhance its anti-hyperuricemia activity is a feasible processing strategy. Graphical Abstract
Li et al. (Sun,) studied this question.