Anti-Arthritic Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Flowers of Moringa oleifera Lam. in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae), commonly known as moringa, drumstick, and horseradish, is a small, fast-growing ornamental tree that originates from India. In the present study, the anti-arthritic activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of Moringa flowers (MOFE, an herbal remedy) was investigated in adjuvant induced arthritis in Wistar rats. Decreases in body weight, paw edema volume (primary lesion), inflammation at non-injected sites of left hind paw, and arthritic index (secondary lesion) in diseased animals were reduced by treatment with MOFE as compared with untreated control animals. The protective effects of MOFE were also noted in decreases in serum levels of Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and levels of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor- α and interleukin-1 in treated diseased animals as compared with untreated diseased control animals. Histopathological sections from animals in the drug treatment group showed a protective effect that was reflected by less infiltration of lymphocytes and less angiogenesis as compared with sections from arthritic animals. This study suggests that Moringa oleifera has therapeutic potential against established arthritis.

KEYWORDS:

• adjuvant
• cytokines
• inflammation
• medicinal plant

The authors acknowledge the financial support given by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India