BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to investigate the anti-arthritis effects of Olax subscorpioidea Afzel ethanol and aqueous root extracts on chicken type II-Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis model in 135 female wistar albino rats. The albino rats were divided into 9 groups, each containing 15 animals.
METHODS: The induction of arthritis was carried out by intradermal administration of 0.1 ml Chicken type 11 collagen-Complete Freund’s adjuvant into the left hind paw of the albino rats. The test animals were treated with extracts at doses of 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg body weight. This treatment commenced on day 10 of the 32-day study period. Blood samples were collected on day 10, 18, 25 and 32 and the following parameters: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein, interleukin- 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed using well defined standard methods. The photochemical analysis of the extracts showed that aqueous root extract of Olax subscorpioidea contained Tannin, Terpenoids, Steroids, Alkaloids, Saponin, Phenol, Flavonoids and Carotenoids in varying amounts (%) 4.72, 0.285, 2.12, 2.10, 4.22, 3.57, 2.35, 1.12 while ethanol root extract of same plant contained 4.91, 3.32, 3.58, 3.58, 0.02, 6.7, 3.45, 2.23 respectively.
RESULTS: The result of the inflammatory parameters showed that in the arthritic rats, the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein, interleukin- 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were significantly (p<0.05) higher. However, treatment of the arthritis induced rats with the extracts at the specified doses resulted in a significant reversal (p<0.05) of the effect of the chicken type II collagen –Complete Freund’s adjuvant in the rats. The healing effect of the extracts on the arthritic rats was both time and dose dependent. The anti-arthritic potentials of the ethanol and aqueous root extracts of Olax subscorpioidea was significantly (p<0.05) comparable to that of the standard drug (Indomethacin) used in the study.
CONCLUSION: The plant extracts contain active constituents that have the potential to suppress the presentation of antigen and reverse arthritic conditions developed in adjuvant induced arthritic rats. Hence, this present study provides scientific evidence that Olax subscorpioidea ethanol and aqueous roots have anti- arthritic potentials. Key Words: Olax subscorpioidea; Weight; Paw size; Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; C-reactive protein; Cytokines
