Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory Potential of Ayurvedic Formulation Rheumacure in Animal Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Background: Rheumacure (RC) is a herbomineral preparation recommended by Ayurvedic medical practitioners for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of oral treatment with the herbomineral formulation in animal model of Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis to develop scientific evidence to the efficacious claim of the use of ayurvedic proprietary medicine in the management of rheumatoid arthritis in folklore medicine. Methods: Arthritis was induced by sub plantar injection of 0.1ml of complete Freund’s adjuvant. Treatment with RC 100 mg/kg and dexamethasone 2 mg/kg was given to rats orally once a day from day 1 to day 21 and after which estimation of physical, biochemical, and haematological parameters were carried out. Results: Treatment of RC to arthritic animal showed statistically significant (p<0.05) improvement in physical parameters like arthritic index, paw edema, paw thickness, splenomegaly and thymus index of the animal. The treatment also showed significantly (p <0.05) reduction in inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, serum rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increase in % haemoglobin. The histopathological examination showed protective effect against hyperplasia of synovium, pannus formation and destruction of the joint space. Conclusions: The results obtained in experiments indicated significant anti-inflammatory effect comparable to dexamethasone and without significant side effect. Thus the RC may be a potential preventive or therapeutic candidate for the treatment of chronic inflammation and arthritis.