Abstract
BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis is the most common cause of disability, affecting 0.3–1% of the adult population worldwide. The latex of Calotropis procera possesses potent anti-inflammatory as well as analgesic properties. In light above facts, the present study was designed to evaluate anti-arthritic activity of Calotropis procera latex in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in Wistar albino rats. Complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the left hind paw on day 0, and treatment of prednisolone and Calotropis procera latex was given from day 0 to 28. Various biochemical, hematological and functional parameters as well as radiological and histopathological changes of joint along with body weight and paw volume were measured.ResultsCalotropis procera treatment significantly lowered paw volume in CFA-induced arthritic rats. Significant improvement was observed in functional, biochemical and hematological parameters in Calotropis procera-treated rats. However, the body weight remained unaffected. Histological and radiographical examination of synovial joints in Calotropis procera-treated animals exhibited less synovial hyperplasia, infiltration and accumulation of inflammatory cell in synovial fluid, cartilage and bone erosion and joint space narrowing.ConclusionCalotropis procera latex possesses anti-arthritic activity, which is facilitated by modulation in the level of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress. The improvement in hematological as well as biochemical parameters might be reflected on functional, histopathological, radiological changes and thereby disease progression.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common cause of disability, affecting 0.3–1% of the adult population worldwide
Effect of C. procera on body weight Compared to control rats, complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritic rats showed a significant decrease in body weight
Both prednisolone treatment and C. procera treatment showed significantly lower paw volume compared to CFA-induced arthritic rats
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common cause of disability, affecting 0.3–1% of the adult population worldwide. The latex of Calotropis procera possesses potent anti-inflammatory as well as analgesic properties. The present study was designed to evaluate anti-arthritic activity of Calotropis procera latex in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in Wistar albino rats. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronic inflammatory-erosive disorder of joints. The worldwide prevalence of the disease is 0.3–1%, and women are more prone to develop the disease than men [1] It is characterized with swelling, pain and morning stiffness and predominantly involved small joints of the wrist, hands, feet and knee [2]. It is well known that the pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukins 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) are responsible for autoimmunity, chronic inflammation and joint damage [5].
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