Jul 2026· International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology· Vol 16· 0 citations· 15 references
TL;DR
The result indicated that Zanthoxylum armatum has significant anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic property which may be attributed to the combination effect of various phytoconstituents present in the plant.
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that is accompanied by progressive
joint destruction, pain and functional disability. The main objective of the present study was to examine the antiarthritic activity of aqueous (ZAAQ) and ethanolic (ZAE) extract of Zanthoxylum armatum in both in-vitro and
in-vivo experimental models. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of
alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, phenolic compounds and glycosides, which are known to possess antiinflammatory properties. The protein denaturation and human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization
assays were used to assess in-vitro anti-arthritic activity at concentration of (50-2000µg/mL). Strong membrane
stabilization and protein denaturation inhibition effects were obtained by both extracts in a concentrationdependent manner, similar to diclofenac sodium. The in-vivo evaluation was performed on Wistar rats with the
induction of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA). The extracts were orally given
after 28 days at doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg. The decrease in paw edema and joint diameter produced by
treatment with ZAAQ and ZAE compared to the disease control group was significant and the increase in body
weight in arthritic rats was also significantly improved. The therapeutic activity of the higher doses of both
extracts was higher, with aqueous extract having comparatively higher activity. The result indicated that
Zanthoxylum armatum has significant anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic property which may be attributed to
the combination effect of various phytoconstituents present in the plant. Hence, the plant can be a promising
natural therapeutic agent for the control of RA.
The current work aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of Pluchea lanceolata (Rasna) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies. After administering Rasna (aqueous and ethanolic extracts), physical parameters such as paw volume and arthritic score were found suppressed in rats (in Freund's complete adjuvant-induced model). Also, radiography and histopathological findings revealed that joint deformities, pannus formation, and tissue swelling of the ankle joint improved when compared with standard and arthritis-induced after 4 weeks. Simultaneously, ELISA results revealed that the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), and COL2A1 were lowered when compared with the standard group. An in silico study revealed that quercetin, isorhamnetin, and linalool were the potential active phytoconstituents and showed promising binding affinity toward targets such as KDR (VEGFR2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), ALOX5, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, and COL2A1. The biological mechanism of Rasna includes several molecular and cellular functions involving the downregulation of angiogenesis through the vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and the reduction of cytokines and anti-collagen II antibodies. Rasna inhibits the activation of the abovementioned pathways and mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in RA. The study suggested the potential use of Rasna in managing arthritis treatment over the conventional therapy in immunocompromised patients.
Nimesh Bhardwaj, P. Dixit, Kandasamy Nagarajan et al.· Assay and drug development t...· 0 citations
Background: Inflammation is a key pathological process underlying arthritis and contributes to progressive damage to the joints, cartilage, and surrounding tissues. Persistent inflammatory responses are associated with infiltration of inflamma-tory cells, pannus formation, cartilage degradation, and bone erosion, ultimately leading to impaired joint function. Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in various plants, honey, and propolis. It possesses several pharmacological properties, particularly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which may help attenuate inflamma-tory tissue damage. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of chrysin in an experimentally induced arthritic rat model using histopathological assessment of joint tissues.Methodology: This study determined the healing effect of Chrysin in a FCA-induced arthritic rat model. Chrysin was inject-ed intraperitoneally on the 8th post-administration day of FCA, and treatment continued for the next three consecutive weeks. GraphPad Prism was used to analyse the results, considering p-values ≤ 0.05 statistically significant. Results: Anti-inflammatory effect of Chrysin upon bones and cartilage was determined by Ankle joint histopathology. Upon histopathology, Chrysin reduced the severity of arthritis in the joint, infiltration of inflammatory cells, subcutaneous in-flammation, cartilage erosion, bone erosion and pannus formation. Piroxicam was used as a reference drug to compare the anti-arthritic effect of Chrysin.Conclusion: Results showed that Chrysin possesses anti-arthritic effects and may be a potential drug for the treatment of arthritis.
Muhammad Asif Faheem, M. Israr, Wardah Siddique et al.· Journal of Fatima Jinnah Med...· 0 citations
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease and the leading cause of joint-related limb disability. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers certain advantages in RA treatment, and Tripterygium preparations are widely used due to their significant clinical efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets (TG) in the treatment of RA through
in vivo
and
ex vivo
experiments, providing a theoretical basis for clinical application.
A collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was established, and the rats received oral administration of the corresponding drugs or distilled water for 4 weeks. The therapeutic effect and mechanism of TG on CIA rats were evaluated by comparing joint swelling severity, radiographic changes in the synovium, and alterations in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and related inflammatory factors. Further
ex vivo
experiments were performed using fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) as the research subject. Lentiviral infection technology was used to overexpress IGF1 or interfere with the expression of Lnc-ENST00000602558. Drug-containing serum was used for intervention. The mechanism of TG in treating RA was further elucidated by detecting changes in cell migration ability, the expression of IGF1 and Lnc-ENST00000602558, JAK/STAT pathway-related targets, and inflammatory factors.
TG significantly improved joint swelling, bone and cartilage destruction in CIA rats, reduced synovial tissue hyperplasia, inhibited the JAK/STAT pathway and IGF1 in the rat joint synovium, lowered serum levels of the inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β, alleviated joint damage, and delayed disease progression.
Ex vivo
experiments showed that the Lnc-ENST00000602558/IGF1 axis could activate the JAK/STAT pathway in FLS. When Lnc-ENST00000602558 was expressed at low levels, the regulatory capacity of TG on the Lnc-ENST00000602558/IGF1 axis and the JAK/STAT pathway was diminished.
TG may regulate the JAK/STAT pathway via the Lnc-ENST00000602558/IGF1 axis, thereby inhibiting the inflammatory response, mitigating bone and cartilage destruction, and delaying disease progression.
Jin-ying Fang, Ming-xuan Liu, Yan-nan Yang et al.· Frontiers in Pharmacology· 0 citations
Clematis florida
var.
Plena
(
C. florida
) holds significant potential as a topical treatment for immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA); however, its active fractions and mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. Given the chemical complexity of herbal remedies, this study adopted a bioactivity- and mechanism-driven approach, focusing on the effects of polarity-based fractions rather than isolated compounds.
C. florida
was extracted with 70% ethanol and sequentially partitioned into petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EA),
n
-butanol (BU), and water (WA) fractions. Phytochemical analysis was conducted to determine the distribution of saponins and flavonoids. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were evaluated using xylene-induced ear edema and acetic acid-induced writhing models, respectively. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed in a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis via topical application. Joint tissues were analyzed using H&E and Safranin O–Fast Green staining, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting to investigate histological changes and signaling pathways (ERK and NF-κB).
Phytochemical analysis revealed that the extract is rich in saponins and flavonoids, which exhibit distinct distribution patterns across fractions of varying polarity. All fractions exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in the ear edema model and analgesic activity in the writhing test. In the arthritis model, topical application of the EA, BU, and WA fractions significantly attenuated paw swelling and reduced serum levels of TNF-α, COX-2, rheumatoid factor, and IL-6. Histological staining confirmed partial protection against joint destruction. Mechanistic studies revealed that these fractions enhanced ERK phosphorylation and suppressed NF-κB activation in joint tissues.
The EA, BU, and WA fractions of
C. florida
possess significant topical therapeutic potential against IMPA. The anti-arthritic effects are likely associated with the modulation of ERK and NF-κB signaling pathways. This study elucidates the pharmacodynamic basis of
C. florida
fractions, positioning them as promising candidates for the development of topical treatments for animal joint disorders.
Ting Lei, Jiabing Zheng, Jie Han et al.· Frontiers in Veterinary Scie...· 0 citations
It can be inferenced from data that VA can be safely used to treat arthritis especially in combination with MTX but it should be further evaluated in combination for long term use.
Ammara Saleem, Afnan Afnan, Muhammad Irfan et al.· Immunopharmacology and immun...· 0 citations
Psoriasis is a persistent cutaneous disorder involving an imbalance in immune regulation, oxidative stress, and abnormal epidermal proliferation. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of Ecballium elaterium (EE) balm compared with clobetasol propionate (0.05%) (CLO) in rats with psoriasis-like lesions induced by topical imiquimod (IMQ). A total of twenty-four adult male of the Wistar strain were randomly allocated to four groups comprising: control (healthy rats), IMQ-induced psoriasis, IMQ + EE balm, and IMQ + clobetasol. Psoriasis was induced by topical application of 5% imiquimod. Treatments were administered daily. Disease severity, histological changes, oxidative stress markers, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and biochemical parameters were evaluated. EE balm markedly improved psoriatic lesions and reduced psoriasis severity scores in imiquimod-treated rats. Biochemical analyses indicated that EE balm produced fewer disturbances in hepatic and lipid parameters than clobetasol, notably by preventing alanine aminotransferase elevation (EE: 62.20 ± 3.09; CLO: 89 ± 6.08) and lowering total cholesterol (EE: 0.47 ± 0.08; CLO: 0.63 ± 0.03). However, serum triglyceride (EE: 0.61 ± 0.03) and creatinine concentrations (EE: 6.03 ± 0.23) remained elevated. Serum TNF-α levels, markedly elevated in imiquimod-treated rats, were significantly reduced following EE balm and clobetasol treatments compared with the IMQ experimental set (p < 0.001). EE balm also mitigated oxidative stress by lowering thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in serum and erythrocytes in the IMQ group. It also restored antioxidant activities, including catalase (IMQ: 3.06 ± 0.79; EE: 4.24 ± 0.73), super oxide dismutase (IMQ: 03.17 ± 1.01; EE: 18.24 ± 1.90), glutathione peroxidase (EE: 31.25 ± 4.99). Additionally, glutathione s-transferase activity was improved in serum and erythrocytes (EE: 09.96 ± 2.29), as were reduced glutathione levels (IMQ: 0.0021 ± 0.0007; EE: 0.0042 ± 0.001). In an imiquimod-induced psoriasis rat model, Ecballium elaterium balm reduced disease severity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, with systemic biochemical changes. Despite these promising findings, this research is still in its early stages based on a single preclinical model.
D. N. Benmalek, F. E. El kadi, Aicha Benyahia et al.· Frontiers in Pharmacology· 0 citations
