Therapeutic effect of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde on lysosomal enzymes and collagen metabolism in adjuvant induced arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, progressive and systemic inflammatory disorder mainly affecting the synovial joints. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-arthritic effect of the methanol extract of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde., (Fabaceae) on adjuvant induced arthritis by assessing paw swelling, body weight, the levels of lysosomal enzymes, protein bound carbohydrates, serum cytokines, urinary collagen and histopathology of joints. It was found that S. asoca methanol extract at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg reduced the paw thickness and elevated the mean body weight of arthritic rats. The treatment of S. asoca showed a significant reduction in the levels of both plasma and liver lysosomal enzymes. The protein bound carbohydrates and urinary collagen contents were also decreased at a significant level by the treatment of S. asoca methanol extract. The histopathological study of the joints showed the anti-arthritic property of S. asoca which nearly normalized the histological architecture of the joints. Further, we established the anti-arthritic activity of S. asoca methanol extract by measuring the levels of cytokines in both arthritic and treated rats. The treatment of S. asoca reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, S. asoca methanol extract was capable of ameliorating the conditions of arthritis in adjuvant induced arthritic rats.

Anti-inflammatory flavanol glycosides fromSaraca asocabark

“…This is the first time that an in vivo activity is being reported for compounds 6 and 8. The bark of S. asoca extract has earlier been studied for anti-inflammatory activity (Preethi & Krishnakumar 2011;Saravanan et al 2011) but the active compounds could not be identified.…”

“…S. indica Linn., locally named as Ashoka, is prescribed by Ayurvedic physicians for various diseases, including, gynaecological disorders (Pradhan et al 2009;Misra 2013). It has been, recently, reported that the MeOH extract reduced paw swelling, increased body weight, reduced the level of lysosomal enzymes, decreased protein-bound carbohydrates, urinary collagen and serum cytokines as well as normalised the histopathology of joints (Saravanan et al 2011) and did not show any toxicity (Mukhopadhyay & Nath 2011). However, the anti-inflammatory compound could not be identified, so far.…”

β-sitosterol in different parts of Saraca asoca and herbal drug ashokarista: Quali-quantitative analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

“…[1] The flowers also reported for medicinal property and used in diabetes, cancer and hemorrhagic dysentery. [234] Antimicrobial property of different plant parts including bark, flower and flower buds are reported in the literature. [5]…”

Phytomedicinal Importance of <i>Saraca asoca</i> (Ashoka): An Exciting Past, an Emerging Present and a Promising Future

“…There is a wealth of information on the analgesic effect of S. asoca in traditional medicine texts which has been demonstrated by experiments that used methanolic, petroleum ether, chloroform and aqueous extracts of the bark and leaves 33,42,56 . The analgesic property of S. indica has been attributed to its ability to inhibit sensory nerve stimulation (early phase), which was experimentally validated using three different methods, namely tail immersion method, tail flick method (which uses an analgesiometer) and formalin induced pain method 41,43 .…”

“…The analgesic property of S. indica has been attributed to its ability to inhibit sensory nerve stimulation (early phase), which was experimentally validated using three different methods, namely tail immersion method, tail flick method (which uses an analgesiometer) and formalin induced pain method 41,43 . Since inflammatory responses contribute to the development of pain, the antiinflammatory activity described above might explain the analgesic effect of S. asoca during the late phase of pain development 11,33,42,70 . Thus, it is assumed that S. asoca extracts typically relieve pain by acting on both the central and peripheral nervous systems 56 .…”