IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDIES OF ANTIHYPERURICEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY FROM BULBS OF BAWANG TIWAI (ELEUTHERINE PALMIFOLIA (L.) MERR.) FROM INDONESIA

Objectives: This study would like to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activity through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and in vitro xanthine oxidase activity of the bulbs. This study performs in vivo assays to study the antihyperuricemic activity and antioxidant in the hyperuricemic rat through plasma malondialdehyde measurement. Method: The study was conducted by testing the fresh bulbs of bawang tiwai (Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr. with chemical solvent of ethanol 70% to extract the bulbs. Allopurinol and Vitamin C were used as positive control for the antihyperuricemic assay and antioxidant assay, respectively. Other chemical substances were also used in this study. This study used chicken extract (Brands) 20 ml/kg/body weight to induce the level of uric acid in the blood serum, and potassium oxonate (Sigma 156124) to inhibit the uricase in rats. Results: The results show that the levels of uric acid were measured using spectrophotometer with dichloro-hydroxybenzen sulfonate (Biolabo) a as reagent. The ethanol extract of bawang tiwai (EBT) (E. palmifolia (L.) Merr) was potential to reduce uric acid level at 140, 280, and 560 mg/kg body weight, but possibly without inhibition against xanthine oxydase activity. Conclusion: All doses of EBT could inhibit lipid peroxidation in hyperuricemic condition caused by high purine diet in 14 days.