Effect of the milk extract of Semecarpus anacardium nut on adjuvant arthritis—A dose-dependent study in wistar albino rats

Abstract

1. 1. Adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats is used as a pathologic model for chronic inflammatory disease to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic agents. 2. 2. In the present work, attempts have been made to study the potency of a milk extract of Semecarpus anacardium (Serankottai Nei), a Siddha preparation from Semecarpus anacardium nut, which has been shown to have antiarthritic effects. 3. 3. Experimental arthritis induces a significant modification in lysosomal enzyme release and total carbohydrate components of glycoprotein. 4. 4. Milk extract was administered at the dose level of 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/kg body weight in olive oil orally (volume 0.5 ml) after 14 days from the day of adjuvant injection. 5. 5. After administration of the extract the lysosomal enzyme activity and protein-bound carbohydrate component levels were significantly normalized. 6. 6. The data obtained clearly indicate that the Semecarpus anacardium is effective at the dose level of 150 mg/kg body weight in adjuvant-induced arthritis in albino Wistar rats.