Protective effects of Cyclocarya paliurus on hyperuricemia and urate-induced inflammation

•Cyclocarya paliurus aqueous extract (CPA) potently protects against hyperuricemia (HUA) by decreasing xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity and regulating the expression of renal urate transporters.•CPA alleviates renal inflammation by inhibiting Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in HUA mice.•Three flavonoid ingredients in CPA shows substantially ameliorative effects on MSU crystal-induced cell inflammation.•quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside might be the major active compounds of CPA, which obtain the favorable effects through blocking the activation of ROS/NLRP3/IL-1β pathway and inhibitory activity of XOD.