Cleistopholis patens Extracts Attenuate Inflammatory Cytokine and Oxidative Stress Status in Complete Freund's Adjuvant-induced Rheumatoid Arthritis in Wistar Albino Rats

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease. Accumulating evidences show that natural products use for RA treatment is gaining importance in the medical world due to negative effects associated with orthodox medicines. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potency of Stem Bark of Cleistopholis Patens (SBCP) on Chicken Type II collagen in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced RA in rats. Experimental rats were divided into nine groups (n= 15). RA was established in the rats by a single intradermal injection of 0.1ml Chicken Type II collagen in CFA through the left hind paw. The serum concentrations of Inter-interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were evaluated. Unlike the untreated arthritic group, the test groups (4-9) orally administered with graded doses (400, 600 and 800 mg/kg) of SBCP extracts for twenty-one days showed significant reduction (P < 0.05) in concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA and NO while the activities of SOD and CAT increased significantly (P < 0.05) when compared to the negative control. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of SBCP extracts were comparable to that of the reference drug, indomethacin. This study indicates that SBCP ethanol and aqueous extracts could suppress proinflammatory cytokines and reduce oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritic rats.