Analyses of Human and Rat Clinical Parameters in Rheumatoid Arthritis Raise the Possibility of Use of Crude Aloe vera Gel in Disease Amelioration

Pokhraj Guha Subhashis Paul

doi:10.4172/1745-7580.1000081

Abstract

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the joints causing swelling, stiffness and pain which finally leads to substantial loss of functioning and mobility in its advanced stages. In the present study we have monitored important serological parameters of fifty RA patients and also have discussed the justification of using rat as a model for human RA researches by comparing their respective serological parameters. We have also evaluated the anti-arthritic roles of raw Aloe vera gel and its effects in rat model where arthritis was induced by using Freund’s Complete Adjuvant (FCA). Three essential conclusive statements were derived from the study. Firstly, the six clinical parameters that we have selected for the study namely, RA factor, CRP, ASO, ESR, ceruloplasmin and serum creatinine were all essential for the differential diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis during its early and later stages, RA factor being the most sensitive of all parameters (92% sensitivity). Secondly, this study has supported the use of the rat as a model for designing therapeutic strategies against RA. Lastly, as evident from our study, Aloe vera extracts can be beneficial for the reduction of inflammatory edema and also for the reduction of ceruloplasmin in RA condition in rat model. However, further investigations are necessary for more refined therapeutic usage of Aloe vera for the treatment of RA in human.

Highlights

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the bone joints causing swelling, stiffness and pain that gradually leads to the substantial loss of functioning and mobility in the advanced stages [1]
A good number of observations were derived from the results of the estimation of the different clinical parameters that we have conducted on the blood samples of 50 RA patients and 50 control subjects
In a similar study conducted on the Iranian population, it was found that 66.5% of the RA patients were RF positive while 33.5 were negative [18]

Summary

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the bone joints causing swelling, stiffness and pain that gradually leads to the substantial loss of functioning and mobility in the advanced stages [1]. In Indian Ayurveda, one such promising herbal candidate having antiarthritic effect is Aloe vera (Family Xanthorrhoeaceae), a perennial succulent xerophytic plant. In this plant water is held in the form of viscous mucilage within the thin walled parenchymatous cells in the innermost part of the leaves. Aloe vera has been used for many centuries for its curative and therapeutic properties [3] It has been traditionally used in various skin ailments [4] and has well known wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities [5,6]. Many of the medicinal effects of Aloe leaf extracts have been attributed to the polysaccharides found in the inner leaf parenchymatous tissue [5,6], but it is believed that these biological activities should be assigned to a synergistic action of the compounds contained therein rather than a single chemical substance [7]

Methods

Results

Conclusion