ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Screening of spice essential oils and their active compounds with xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity: in vitro, in vivo and in silico approach

Hongpeng Yu, Zizhen Li, JinJin Yang, Cansheng Ou, Dong He, Kegang Wu, ZhengXiang Cui, Xianghua Chai, and Xuejuan Duan

School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

E-mail: hedong86284116@163.com

Received: 8 July 2025  Accepted: 5 May 2026

Abstract:

This study aimed to identify spice essential oils (EOs) that could lower uric acid and alleviate hyperuricemia. The xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibition of 24 spice EOs was evaluated in vitro, with citronella (CEO) and nutmeg (NEO) showing the highest inhibition rates of 82.75 ± 1.21% and 80.47 ± 4.43%, respectively. In a zebrafish model, CEO, NEO, and their combination significantly reduced uric acid levels (p < 0.05), comparable to allopurinol. In a high uric acid mouse model, CEO and NEO also significantly inhibited XOD (p < 0.001) and reduced uric acid levels (p < 0.001). Network pharmacology predicted protein targets and pathways for their effects on hyperuricemia, and molecular docking suggested binding to the FAD region of XOD. Both essential oils exhibited potent XOD inhibition in vitro (IC₅₀ = 9.78 µg/mL for CEO and 4.62 µg/mL for NEO), and their major components—caryophyllene, α-pinene, myrcene, and longifolene—showed IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.39 to 1.06 µg/mL. These findings suggest potential use of CEO and NEO in managing high uric acid levels.

Keywords: Spice essential oils; Active compounds; Xanthine oxidase; Uric acid; Screening

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-05025-8

Chemical Papers 80 (9) 10549–10559 (2026)