Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by joint swelling, joint tenderness, and destruction of synovial joints, leading to severe disability and premature mortality^1-5. Given the presence of autoantibodies, such as rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti–citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) (tested as anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide [anti- CCP]), which can precede the clinical manifestation of RA by many years , RA is considered an auto- immune disease. Autoimmunity and the overall systemic and articular inflammatory load drive the destructive progression of the disease^6,7. The use of NSAIDs is widespread in rheumatology because of their effectiveness as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. In addition to their use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), NSAIDs are widely used in the symptomatic management of other rheumatic diseases characterized by chronic musculo- skeletal pain and diverse forms of acute pain.

NSAIDs differ widely in their chemical class, but share the property of blocking production of prostaglandins⁸.
NSAIDs are frequently used as first-line agents for the symptomatic relief of many different inflammatory conditions.⁹

Sesbania grandiflora (syn. Aeschynomene grandiflora, Agati grandiflora) also known as agati or hummingbird tree, is a small tree in the genus Sesbania¹⁰^.Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. is a small, erect, fast-growing, and sparsely branched tree belonging to the Leguminosae family. All parts of S. grandiflora have been used empirically as a traditional remedy in folk medicine to treat various diseases such as catarrh, dysentery, fevers, headaches, smallpox, sore throat, and stomatitis^11,12. It contains arginine, cysteine, histidine, isolcucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, valine, threonine, alanine, aspargine, aspartic acid, oleanolic acid, galactose, Rhamnose and glucuronic acid¹³. Chemical constituents are well known for their potential health benefits and have been reported to possess valuable biological activities such as antibacterial and antifungal¹⁴, antioxidant¹⁵, antiurolithiatic, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic¹⁶ and hepatoprotective properties¹⁷.

The objective of this study is to investigate the anti arthritic activity of Sesbania grandiflora.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Plant material:

Sesbania grandiflora is obtained as an gift sample from Green Chem Herbal Extracts and Formulations, Bangalore.

Chemicals:

Diclofenac sodium is obtained from sigma Aldrich (USA), All the chemicals used were of analytical grade.

EVALUATION OF INVITRO ANTI-ARTHRITIC ACTIVITY:

Inhibition of Protein Denaturation method^18,19

Concentration of test substance: 1000 to 200µg/ml

Standard : Diclofenac sodium

Chemicals Required : Bovine serum albumin,1N HCl, Phosphate buffer (pH 6.3)

Instrument : Incubator, Spectrophotometer - 660nm

The following 4 solutions is used

Test solution (0.5ml) consists of 0.45ml of bovine serum albumin (5%w/v aqueous solution) and 0.05ml of test solution.

Test control solution (0.5ml) consists of 0.45ml of bovine serum albumin (5%w/v aqueous solution) and 0.05ml of distilled water.

Product control (0.5ml) consists of 0.45ml of distilled water and 0.05ml of test solution.

Standard solution (0.5ml) consists of 0.45ml of bovine serum albumin (5%w/v aqueous solution) and 0.05ml 0f Diclofenac sodium (200μg/ml).

All of the above solutions were adjusted to pH 6.3 using a small amount of 1N HCl. The samples were incubated at 37°C for 20minutes and heated at 57°C for 3 minutes. After cooling, add 2.5ml of phosphate buffer to the above solutions. The absorbance of the solutions was measured using UV-Visible spectrophotometer at 416nm. The percentage inhibition of protein denaturation was calculated using the formula.

The percentage inhibition of Protein denaturation will be calculated as follows.

OD of test solution – OD of product control

Percent = 100 – -------------------------------------------------------X 100

Inhibition OD of test control

The control represents 100% protein denaturation. The result is compared with Diclofenac sodium treated sample.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Sesbania grandiflora exhibits significant antiarthritic activity. The ethyl acetate extract shows an inhibitory activity at 200-1000 μg/ml by inhibiting denaturation of protein and its effect was compared with standard drug diclofenac sodium. The results are depicted in table 1 and represented in Fig 1. Auto antigen production in rheumatoid arthritis is due to denaturation of protein. From the results of the present study it can be stated that ethyl acetate extract of Sesbania grandiflora is capable of controlling the production of auto antigen and inhibiting the protein denaturation in rheumatoid arthritis.

CONCLUSION:

The in vitro study by the inhibition of protein denaturation method emphasizes the anti-inflammatory-antiarthritic efficacy of herbal extract similar to that of standard diclofenac sodium. The antiarthritic activity is due to the presence of flavenoids, phenols, polyphenols, and steroids. Further studies are mandatory, to identify the active constituent(s), that is responsible for the antiarthritic efficacy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The authors wish to thank Green Chem Herbal Extracts and Formulations, Bangalore for providing the extract as a gift sample for the study and the Management, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital for providing facility and kind support.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

None declared

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Received on 14.05.2015 Modified on 05.06.2015

Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 8(11): Nov., 2015; Page 1509-1511

DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2015.00269.3