In-vitro and In-vivo Antiarthritic Activity of the Ethanol Extracts of Leaves of Astragalus glycyphyllos in CFA-induced Arthritis in Rats

Abstract

The effectiveness of the ethanolic extract of A. glycyphyllos leaves was evaluated for treating arthritis. This was done by examining its ability to protect chondrocytes (cartilage cells) from inflammation caused by IL-1β stimulation, as well as its ability to alleviate arthritis generated by CFA in rats. Rats in the CFA control group exhibited increased paw inflammation on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Inflammation was greatly reduced when treated with A. glycyphyllos extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. There was a positive correlation between the extract dosage and the rats’ body weight. The extract alleviated inflammatory and arthritic symptoms in animals with CFA, leading to an improvement in the arthritic index. Animals afflicted with arthritis exhibited elevated levels of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and a decrease in their ability to move. The administration of the extract significantly improved the locomotor score and strongly suppressed the activation of inflammatory markers. The extract effectively reduced the production of NO, PGE2, MMP1, and MMP13 in IL-1β-stimulated PRCs, with the extent of reduction depending on the dosage. This investigation showcased the therapeutic properties of the A. glycyphyllos extract in treating arthritis.