Anti arthritic activity of theaflavin (TF), chief flavonoid of black tea against adjuvant induced rheumatoid arthritis in experimental animal models

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is nowadays major problem among the aged old people in the society. During the past few decades there has been a dramatic increase in the use of natural herbal products for the treatment of this disease. Theaflavin (TF) is the chief flavonoid of black tea and possess anti oxidant, anti inflammatory property. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of TF, chief flavonoid of Black tea on experimental arthritic animal model. Rheumatoid arthritis was induced in animal models by Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA). Male albino Wister rats (120 ± 10 g) were used and they were divided into 5 groups: Group 1: Sham control; Group 2: Arthritis control, Group 3: Standard (Indomethacin), Group 4: TF treated (low dose), Group 5: TF treated (high dose). Anti-arthritic activity of TF was examined through urinary, serum, synovial fluid parameters, bone ash parameters, histological, radiological studies of joints, SEM studies of joint architecture and cell cycle analysis. It has been observed that urinary parameters changed significantly in arthritic group as compared with sham control and the change was significantly restored in TF treated and standard drug treated groups. Serum enzymes, serum cytokines, synovial cytokines, bone ash minerals levels were restored significantly in TF treated groups as compared with arthritic groups. Histological, radiological and SEM studies of the joint/bone architecture showed restoration of the structural architecture of the arthritic joint/bone after TF treatment. TF treatment significantly arrested the cell cycle of white blood cells at Go/G1 phase. The findings showed that TF possess distinct anti-arthritic activity in animal model and further studies are warranted on the mechanism of action.