Anti-arthritic Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Capparis erythrocarpos Isert Roots in Freund’s Adjuvant-induced Arthritis in Rats

Research Article

**Anti-arthritic Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Capparis erythrocarpos Isert Roots in Freund’s Adjuvant-induced Arthritis in Rats**

Cynthia Amaning Danquah, Eric Woode and Eric Boakye-Gyasi

Capparis erythrocarpos (Capparaceae) is a medicinal plant used traditionally in Ghana and other parts of Africa for the management of various inflammatory and pain conditions without any scientific validation. The aim of this study, therefore was to provide scientific evidence for the use of this plant as an anti-arthritic agent using the Freund’s Adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats, a chronic inflammatory model which mimics rheumatoid arthritis in humans. Arthritis was induced by injection of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant into the right paw of Sprague-Dawley rats and paw volume was measured by water displacement plethysmography. Dexamethasone and methotrexate were used as reference drugs. The results obtained show that treatment with the extract (30 mg kg^-1; p.o.) significantly suppressed adjuvant-induced arthritis with maximal inhibitions of 34.19±15.73% and also significantly prevented the spread of arthritis from the ipsilateral to the contralateral paw. Higher doses of the extract (100 and 300 mg kg^-1; p.o.) did not show significant inhibition of arthritis. Methotrexate (0.1-1.0 mg kg^-1) and dexamethasone (0.3-3 mg kg^-1) significantly and dose-dependently inhibited polyarthritis and completely prevented the spread of arthritis to the contralateral paws. Adjuvant-induced arthritis was ameliorated by the combined effect of C. erythrocarpos (100 mg kg^-1; p.o.) and dexamethasone (1 mg kg^-1; i.p.) as well as C. erythrocarpos (100 mg kg^-1; p.o.) and methotrexate (0.3 mg kg^-1; i.p.). From the results, C. erythrocarpos had anti-arthritic effect and the effect shown is comparable to that of methotrexate. This provides a validation for the traditional use of the plant in managing rheumatoid arthritis.

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Cynthia Amaning Danquah, Eric Woode and Eric Boakye-Gyasi, 2011. Anti-arthritic Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Capparis erythrocarpos Isert Roots in Freund’s Adjuvant-induced Arthritis in Rats. Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 6: 201-217.

DOI: 10.3923/jpt.2011.201.217

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jpt.2011.201.217

Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology

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Authors

Cynthia Amaning Danquah

Eric Woode

Eric Boakye-Gyasi

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Research Article

**Anti-arthritic Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Capparis erythrocarpos Isert Roots in Freund’s Adjuvant-induced Arthritis in Rats**

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