Discovery of multi-target anti-gout agents from Eurycoma longifolia Jack through phenotypic screening and structural optimization

Developing anti-gout medications that simultaneously reduce uric acid and exert anti-inflammatory effects represents a critical breakthrough for managing gout progression. Natural products with polypharmacological properties offer promising leads for drug discovery. In this study, β-carboline-1-propionic acid, a bioactive constituent of Eurycoma longifolia Jack, served as the starting point for drug design. Guided by a dual-target pharmacophore model, we design and synthesize 64 derivatives. Through systematic screening, 32 emerges as a drug candidate, demonstrating potent uric acid-lowering activity in male hyperuricemia mouse models (efficacy comparable to febuxostat and superior to lesinurad and benzbromarone) by inhibiting key urate transporters. In a male rat model of acute gouty arthritis, 32 mitigates NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation. Notably, 32 exhibits enhanced safety compared to control drugs. This study exemplifies a natural product-inspired, dual-mechanism drug discovery approach, showcasing the potential of a rational polypharmacology and thus offering therapeutic opportunities for gout management. Developing anti-gout medications that simultaneously reduce uric acid and exert anti-inflammatory effects is of interest for managing gout progression. Here, the authors employ a dual-target pharmacophore model to design derivatives of β-carboline-1-propionic acid and identify a drug candidate demonstrating potent uric acid-lowering activity in male hyperuricemia mouse models and mitigating NLRP3-mediated inflammation.