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Anti‐inflammatory activities of Cassia alata extract in Complete Freund 's Adjuvant arthritis in rats
Author(s) -
Lewis Anishka Triciana,
Levy Arkene Stacy-Ann
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1124.2
Subject(s) - medicine , arthritis , synovial fluid , cartilage , cassia , knee joint , knee arthritis , inflammation , osteoarthritis , traditional medicine , surgery , pathology , anatomy , traditional chinese medicine , alternative medicine
Cassia alata (C. alata) is a plant belonging the family Caesalpiniaceae and native to tropical America. The anti‐inflammatory mechanism of a hexane extract of C. alata was investigated in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) arthritis, as a chronic model of inflammation. The extract was prepared and administered to CFA arthritic animals at 500mg/kg. The CFA model was created by the injection of 0.5ml CFA into the synovial cavity of the right knee joint of hind leg of rats. Changes in knee joint swelling, cartilage integrity and synovial fluid leukocyte counts were assessed in response to C. alata treatment. Assessment of the reduction in knee joint swelling was performed by obtaining the circumference of the knee joint. Histological analysis was done to assess the cartilage erosion. C . alata significantly (p = 0.009) reduced knee joint swelling and provided protection against cartilage degradation. The migration of leukocytes to the blood (p= 0.002) and synovial cavity (p=0.019, 0.012, 0.028 and 0.002) was also significantly reduced. These results suggest potent antiinflammatory activities for C. alata that could be potentially exploited for arthritis therapy. Funding was provided by the Graduated Studies Department at the University of the West Indies.