Abstract
<p class="Abstract">The present study determines the anti-arthritic potential of Ephedra gerardiana ethanolic extract and its ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions adopting in vitro and in vivo tests. In vitro tests included thermally induced bovine serum albumin denaturation and egg albumin denaturation, also membrane stabilizing assay at concentration of 50-6400 µg/mL, whereas in vivo study comprised formaldehyde-induced arthritis at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses. The crude extract and fractions inhibited protein denaturation and stabilized red blood cells membrane in concentration-dependent fashion, with maximal effect achieved at 6,400 µg/mL (p&lt;0.001). Similarly, in formaldehyde model, the extract and fractions dose-dependently reduced injected paw volume and diameter, with maximum reduction at 200 mg/kg (p&lt;0.001). However, results of aqueous fraction were on a par with hydroalcoholic extract in each test. These results suggest that E. gerardiana provides protection against arthritis that might be owing to the existence of phytoconstituents thus, supporting folkloric claim.</p><p><strong>Video Clip of Methodology</strong>:</p><p>23 min 48 sec: <a href="https://youtube.com/v/Pr4sgq3sBUY">Full Screen</a> <a href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=Pr4sgq3sBUY">Alternate</a></p>
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune ailment and most imperative inflammatory arthritis in humans
The anti-arthritic effect of E. gerardiana aqueous ethanolic extract and its fractions was appraised against egg albumin denaturation (Figure 1)
The hydro-alcoholic extract at 6400 μg/mL offered 3219.4% inhibition and among the fractions, aqueous fraction proved to be most efficacious with 2899.3% egg albumin denaturation inhibition at 6400 μg/mL
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune ailment and most imperative inflammatory arthritis in humans. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. Synthetic drugs employed to treat rheumatoid arthritis include NSAIDs, IL-1 receptor antagonist, DMARDs, anti-TNF-α drugs and glucocorticoids. Their use is accompanied with surplus adverse effects comprising immunosuppression and advent of opportunistic infections. The need of hour is to develop novel, long acting anti-arthritic agents with least adverse effects. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are among highest consumers of complementary and alternative medications and they pursue alternative methods for symptomatic relief. Natural herbs offer better results to mankind in dealing with this looming disease and plant derived drugs have attained admiration in last few years both in developing and developed countries owing to their natural origin and fewer adverse effects (Nair et al, 2011)
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