Standardized ethyl acetate fraction from the roots of Brassica rapa attenuates the experimental arthritis by down regulating inflammatory responses and inhibiting NF-κB activation

3,5-Di-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl phloroacetophenone, a major component of Melicope ptelefolia, suppresses fibroblast activation and alleviates arthritis in a mouse model: Potential therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis

Melicope ptelefolia has been traditionally used to treat rheumatism and fever. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of 3,5-di-C-β-_d-glucopyranosyl phloroacetophenone (βGP), a main component of M. ptelefolia, on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established in mice using the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The clinical scores of arthritis, swelling, histopathological findings, and micro-computed tomography in CIA mouse paws were assessed. The levels of anti-type II collagen antibody and cytokines were determined in the plasma and cell culture supernatant, respectively. Protein and gene expression levels were analyzed by western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. βGP significantly decreased the gross arthritic scores of CIA mice and joint swelling, and decreased articular inflammation, cartilage degradation and bone erosion. However, βGP did not exert any effect on anti-type II collagen immunoglobulin G plasma levels or inflammatory cytokine expression in macrophages. βGP significantly suppressed the expression of interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor and decreased the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand in tumor necrosis factor-α-stimulated MEFs and in CIA mouse paws. Osteoclast-related gene expression was significantly reduced in CIA mouse paws. Taken together, βGP suppressed the development of RA by regulating the activation of synovial fibroblasts.

Cissus quadrangularis attenuates the adjuvant induced arthritis by down regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine and inhibiting angiogenesis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In traditional medicine, Cissus quadrangularis has been used as a chief ingredient of many formulation for the treatment of inflammatory and bone disorders..

OBJECTIVE

The study was carried out to investigate the anti-arthritic activity of C. quadrangularis hydroalcoholic extract (CQHE) and to explore the plausible mechanism of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Arthritis was induced by sub plantar administration of formaldehyde (2% v/v) and 0.1ml of complete Freund's adjuvant. Joint swelling was measured on days 8, 9 and 10 in formaldehyde-induced arthritis and on 3, 7, 14 and 21 days in adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA) respectively. Serum and ankle joints of AIA rats were used for estimation of serum TNF-α level, oxidative stress markers and synovial expression of proinflammatory cytokines/cytokine receptor (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-R1), angiogenesis marker (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3& 9). An acute and 28-day oral toxicity was carried out to evaluate the safety of the test drug.

RESULTS

CQHE produced a dose dependent inhibition of joint swelling in both formaldehyde-induced and adjuvant induced arthritis. CQHE treatment also reduced serum TNF-α level, oxidative stress and synovial expression of inflammatory and angiogenesis marker. In sub acute toxicity study of CQHE, chronic administration of CQHE did not produce any physiological and pathological changes as compared to normal rats.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated the anti-arthritic potential of C. quadrangularis and it validates its traditional use for the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.

Picrorhiza kurroa Inhibits Experimental Arthritis Through Inhibition of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines, Angiogenesis and MMPs

The present study investigates the anti-arthritic activity of Picrorhiza kurroa (PK), on formaldehyde and adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rat. Administration of Picrorhiza kurroa rhizome extract (PKRE) significantly inhibited joint inflammation in both animal models. In AIA-induced arthritic rat, treatment with PKRE considerably decreased synovial expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNF-R1) and vascular endothelial growth factor as compared with control. The anti-arthritic activity was found to be well substantiated with significant suppression of oxidative and inflammatory markers as there was decreased malonaldehyde, Nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor alpha levels accompanied with increased glutathione and superoxide dismutase, catalase activities. Additionally, PKRE significantly inhibited the expression of degrading enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases-3 and matrix metalloproteinases-9 in AIA-induced arthritic rat. Histopathology of paw tissue displayed decreased inflammatory cell infiltration as compared with control. Taken together, these results demonstrated the anti-arthritic activity of PKRE against experimental arthritis, and the underlying mechanism behind this efficacy might be mediated by inhibition of inflammatory mediators and angiogenesis, improvement of the synovium redox status and decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinases.