Cissus quadrangularis attenuates the adjuvant induced arthritis by down regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine and inhibiting angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND

In traditional medicine, Cissus quadrangularis has been used as a chief ingredient of many formulation for the treatment of inflammatory and bone disorders..

OBJECTIVE

The study was carried out to investigate the anti-arthritic activity of C. quadrangularis hydroalcoholic extract (CQHE) and to explore the plausible mechanism of action.

METHODS

Arthritis was induced by sub plantar administration of formaldehyde (2% v/v) and 0.1ml of complete Freund's adjuvant. Joint swelling was measured on days 8, 9 and 10 in formaldehyde-induced arthritis and on 3, 7, 14 and 21 days in adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA) respectively. Serum and ankle joints of AIA rats were used for estimation of serum TNF-α level, oxidative stress markers and synovial expression of proinflammatory cytokines/cytokine receptor (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-R1), angiogenesis marker (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3& 9). An acute and 28-day oral toxicity was carried out to evaluate the safety of the test drug.

RESULTS

CQHE produced a dose dependent inhibition of joint swelling in both formaldehyde-induced and adjuvant induced arthritis. CQHE treatment also reduced serum TNF-α level, oxidative stress and synovial expression of inflammatory and angiogenesis marker. In sub acute toxicity study of CQHE, chronic administration of CQHE did not produce any physiological and pathological changes as compared to normal rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated the anti-arthritic potential of C. quadrangularis and it validates its traditional use for the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.