Protective Effect of Cuscuta reflexa Extract Against Monosodium Urate-Induced Gouty Arthritis in Pigeons
Abstract: Gouty arthritis is an inflammatory joint disorder caused by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition, which triggers NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. This study evaluated the protective effect of Cuscuta reflexa aqueous extract against MSU-induced gouty arthritis in pigeons (Columba livia). Healthy pigeons were divided into three groups: a normal control, an MSU-induced toxic control, and a group pre-treated with C. reflexa extract (400 mg/kg, 1 mL/kg intramuscularly) daily for seven days before MSU challenge on day 7. Serum uric acid, xanthine oxidase activity, TNF-? levels, and one-leg standing time- a functional pain-behaviour marker- were assessed. MSU administration significantly elevated uric acid (14.08 ± 0.3 mg/dL), xanthine oxidase activity (4.7 ± 0.9 mU/mL) and TNF-? (28.05 ± 0.2 pg/mL) relative to normal control (P
Keywords: Cuscuta reflexa; gouty arthritis; monosodium urate; xanthine oxidase; TNF-?; NLRP3 inflammasome; pigeon model
How to Cite?: S. Gayathri, K. Dhursaa Veera Gomathi, K. Gokul, C. Mani Murugan, "Protective Effect of Cuscuta reflexa Extract Against Monosodium Urate-Induced Gouty Arthritis in Pigeons", Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1705-1709, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26926180202, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26926180202