Protective effects of ginger-turmeric rhizomes mixture on joint inflammation, atherogenesis, kidney dysfunction and other complications in a rat model of human rheumatoid arthritis.

Besides joint destruction, extra-articular complications (outside the locomotor system) are frequent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, especially cardiovascular, hematological and metabolic disorders. Here, we evaluated and compared the protective activity of two different doses of mixture of ginger and turmeric rhizomes powder (1 : 1) suspended in distilled water (GTaq) in alleviating both articular and extra-articular manifestations in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA). Arthritis was induced by a single intra-dermal injection of 0.1 mL of Complete Freund's adjuvant (containing heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis) into the palmar surface of the left hind paw after the rats were subjected to light diethyl ether anesthesia. Arthritic rats received orally and daily (for 28 consecutive days) distilled water as vehicle, indomethacin (1.0 mg/kg body weight), or GTaq (200 or 400 mg/kg body weight) from the day of arthritis induction. The present study showed that GTaq (especially the high dose) was more effective (4.2-38.4% higher, P < 0.05-0.001) than indomethacin (a non-steroidal/anti-inflammatory drug) in alleviating the loss in body weight gain, the histopathological changes observed in ankle joints, blood leukocytosis and thrombocytosis, iron deficiency anemia, serum hypoalbuminemia and globulinemia, the impairment of kidney functions, and the risks for cardiovascular disease in arthritic rats. These protective effects of GTaq were mediated through increasing the food intake and decreasing the systemic inflammation that occur at the appearance of polyarthritis, oxidative stress and dyslipidemia. Ginger-turmeric rhizomes mixture may be effective against RA severity and complications as shown in an AIA rat model.

Ramadan G ，El-Menshawy O 《-》

Anti-inflammatory activity of green versus black tea aqueous extract in a rat model of human rheumatoid arthritis.

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in tea (Camellia sinensis) as a protective agent against inflammatory diseases. Here, we evaluated/compared the anti-inflammatory activity of two different doses (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg body weight) of green tea aqueous extract (GTE, rich in catechins) and black tea aqueous extract (BTE, rich in theaflavins and thearubigins) in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA). Adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model received orally/daily distilled water as vehicle, indomethacin (1.0 mg/kg body weight; a non-steroidal/anti-inflammatory drug), or tea aqueous extracts (for 28 or 14 consecutive days starting from day 0 or 14 of arthritis induction, respectively). The present study showed that only the high dose of GTE (from day 0) significantly alleviated (P < 0.05-0.001) all complications shown in arthritic rats, including synovial joint inflammation, elevation in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, blood leukocytosis (due to lymphocytosis and neutrocytosis), and changes in weight/cellularity of lymphoid organs. The anti-arthritic activity of the high dose of GTE (from day 0) was comparable (P > 0.05) with that of indomethacin (12.9-53.8 vs. 9.5-48.4%, respectively) and mediated by significantly decreasing and down-regulating (P < 0.001) the systemic production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the expression of chemokine receptor-5 in synovial tissues, respectively. Moreover, the anti-arthritic activity of tea aqueous extracts was in the following order: high dose of GTE > low dose of GTE ≥ high dose of BTE > low dose of BTE. The present study proved the anti-inflammatory activity of GTE over BTE and equal to that of indomethacin in AIA rat model.

Ramadan G ，El-Beih NM ，Talaat RM ，Abd El-Ghffar EA ... -  《-》

Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of Curcuma longa (turmeric) versus Zingiber officinale (ginger) rhizomes in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis.

Ramadan G ，Al-Kahtani MA ，El-Sayed WM 《-》

Anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory activity of combined pioglitazone and prednisolone on adjuvant-induced arthritis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of combined treatment of pioglitazone (PGZ) and prednisolone (PDL) on the progression of adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Adjuvant arthritis was induced by single intra-dermal injection of 0.1 ml Freund's complete adjuvant (0.05% w/v Mycobacterium butyricum in mineral oil) into foot pads of left hind paws of Wistar rats of either sex. There were six experimental groups: Group I was healthy animals as control, Group II was arthritic animals without drug treatment, Group III was arthritic animals treated with a standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug aspirin (100 mg/kg), Group IV was arthritic animals received PGZ (10 mg/kg) alone, Group V was arthritic animals received PDL (10 mg/kg) alone, and Group VI was arthritic animals treated with a combined suspension of PGZ and PDL (20 mg/kg). Drugs were administered daily orally at day 0 and continued upto 28th day after induction of arthritis. Induction of arthritis significantly increased hind paw volume (HPV), loss of body weight (BW), enhanced tibiotarsal joint thickness (TJT), and increased plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels. Treatment with aspirin or combined suspension of PGZ and PDL in the arthritic animals produced significant reductions in HPV and TJT, normalized BW, and significantly decreased plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-6. These observations suggest that the combined administration of PGZ and PDL was effective in modulating the inflammatory response and suppress arthritis progression in experimental animal model. These findings may help to improve the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Suke SG ，Negi H ，Mediratta PK ，Banerjee BD ，Sharma KK ... -  《-》

Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of aqueous extract of Rosa centifolia in experimental rat models.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activity of Rosa centifolia aqueous extract (RC) in a carrageenan-induced paw edema model and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis. Anti-inflammatory activity of RC was evaluated using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats. Arthritis was induced in rats by sub-plantar administration of CFA. Joint size was measured at regular intervals by using a micrometer screw gauge. Serum and ankle joints of rats immunized with CFA were collected and subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for estimation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level and dot blot for secretory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. An acute and 28-day oral toxicity study was carried out to evaluate the safety of the test drug. Pre-treatment with RC produced a dose-dependent reduction in carrageenan-induced paw edema and CFA-induced arthritis models and was effective as indomethacin. RC also inhibited the delayed increase in joint diameter as seen in control and indomethacin-treated animals in CFA-induced arthritis. The expression of proinflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β was also found to be less in the RC-treated group as compared to controls. Based on these results, it was suggested that Rosa centifolia could be considered as a potential anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agent.

Kumar R ，Nair V ，Gupta YK ，Singh S ... -  《-》