INVITRO EVALUATION OF ANTI-ARTHRITIC ACTIVITY IN METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CONOCARPUS ERECTUS

Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by pain, swelling and inflexibility [1]. Rheumatoid arthritis may rapidly progress into a multisystem inflammation with irreversible joint destruction and increase the risk of mortality [2]. It is an inflammation of synovial joint due to immune mediated response. Recently, it has been reported that microorganism including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, bacterial DNA, and bacterial toxin may exacerbate the inflammatory response in the joint and bone [3]. Pathophysiology of exaggerated synovial tissue, involves hyperplasis and subintimal infiltration of T and B. lymphocytes, this result in pannus tissue that irreversibly destroys the cartilage and bone in the affected joint. Polymorphoneuclear leukocytes and macrophages are also stimulated which result in the production of inflammatory mediators including large amount of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide that can cause significant impairment and destruction of synovial fluid, cartilage and other articular constituents [4, 5]. The production of auto antigens in certain arthritic diseases may be due to in vivo denaturation of proteins [6]. The mechanism of denaturation probably involves alteration in electrostatic, hydrogen, hydrophobic and disulphide bonding [7]. So, by controlling the production of auto antigen and inhibiting denaturation of protein in rheumatic disease leads to anti-arthritic activity. Hence, inhibition of protein denaturation was taken as a measure of the invitro anti-arthritic activity [8].