Gouty arthritis is an extremely painful, intense, acute inflammatory disorder that erupts in response to articular deposits of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. Apart from pain management, therapeutic approaches target at suppressing the inflammation. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of 6- Gingerol (25mg/kg b. wt) against monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammation in mice; an experimental model for gouty arthritis. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin (3 mg/kg body weight) was used as a reference for comparison. Paw volume and levels/activities of lysosomal enzymes were assessed in control and monosodium urate crystal-induced mice. In addition, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) incubated with monosodium urate crystals in vitro were also examined for the levels of acid phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase released. Increase in levels of lysosomal enzymes, and paw volume were observed in monosodium urate crystal-induced mice. However, upon treatment with 6-Gingerol, these biochemical alterations were brought back to near normal levels as comparable to indomethacin treatment. 6-Gingerol also reduced the acid phosphate and lactate dehydrogenase release in monosodium urate crystal incubated PMNL cells in vitro. These results strongly support the possibility of 6-Gingerol to be employed as an anti-inflammatory agent against gouty arthritis.
