Anti-Gouty Arthritis and Antihyperuricemia Effects of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Head Extract in Gouty and Hyperuricemia Animal Models

Figure 2

Histopathological assessment of ankle joints in rats via H&E staining observed with light microscopy (200x). Compared to normal control rats (NC), displaying normal joint microstructure, narrowed joint space, and inflammatory cells were noted in ankles of MSU crystals-injected rats (MC). COL (0.3 mg/kg) and SHEB (1 g/kg) significantly reversed these pathologic alternations in ankles of MSU crystals-injected rats. NC: normal control, MC: model control, COL: colchicine, and SHE: sunflower head extract. The arrows refer to the surface of ankle joint, the main site of deformation of joint synovium, and infiltration of inflammatory cells at the joints.