Investigating the Vital Role of the Identified Abietic Acid from Helianthus annuus L. Calathide Extract against Hyperuricemia via Human Embryonic Kidney 293T Cell Model

To explore the anti-hyperuricemia components in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) calathide extract (SCE), we identified abietic acid (AA) via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and found an excellent inhibitor of xanthine oxidase (IC50 = 10.60 µM, Ki = 193.65 nM) without cytotoxicity. Based on the transcriptomics analysis of the human embryonic kidney 293T cell model established using 1 mM uric acid, we evaluated that AA showed opposite modulation of purine metabolism to the UA group and markedly suppressed the intensity of purine nucleoside phosphorylase, ribose phosphate pyrophosphokinase 2, and ribose 5-phosphate isomerase A. Molecular docking also reveals the inhibition of purine nucleoside phosphorylase and ribose phosphate pyrophosphokinase 1. The SCE exhibits similar regulation of these genes, so we conclude that AA was a promising component in SCE against hyperuricemia. This present study provided a novel cell model for screening anti-hyperuricemia natural drugs in vitro and illustrated that AA, a natural diterpenoid, is a potential inhibitor of purine biosynthesis or metabolism.