Scientific validation of anti-arthritic effect of Kashayams – A polyherbal formulation in collagen induced arthritic rats
Authors
Aswathy S
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, Kerala, India
Santhi Krishnan
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, Kerala, India
Jasmine Peter
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, Kerala, India
Vidya Sabu
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, Kerala, India
A Helen
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, Kerala, India
Keywords:
Kashayams, Toll-like receptor -4, Anti-Arthritic, Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, Type II collagen, Rheumatoid arthritis
Abstract
Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) mediates activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) resulting in induction of proinflammatory genes such as that encoding tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) which played a significant role in cartilage destruction of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Low risk and better efficacy made herbal drugs more reliable than nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in RA treatment. Gugguluthiktam Kashayam (GuK), Punarnavadi Kashayam (PuK) and Balaguluchiadi Kashayam (BgK) are ayurvedic polyherbal formulations prescribed in classical ayurvedic texts Sahasrayogam and Ashtangahridayam as medicines for the treatment of RA.
Objective
The objective of the present study was to elucidate the molecular mechanism of anti-arthritic effect of these Kashayams on TLR-4 signal transduction pathway in collagen induced arthritic rats.
Material and methods
The wistar rats grouped into group I - Normal, group II- Collagen induced arthritis (CIA), group III- CIA + BgK, group IV– CIA + PuK, group V- CIA + GuK, group VI - CIA + Indomethacin (3 mg/kg b.wt.). Treatment with Kashayam (2 ml/kg b.wt) started after 14 days of primary immunization with type II collagen and continued for a period of 45 days.
Results
Arthritis index, C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in serum and protein level of TLR-4, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MYD88), NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 COX-2) and prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2) in cartilage were significantly elevated in CIA rats. Further, treatment with Kashayams downregulated all these inflammatory mediators hitherto TLR-4-NF-kB signal transduction pathway except IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine which showed a reverse effect.
Conclusion
This molecular mechanism of the investigation confirmed the clinical efficacy of Kashayams in preventing the progression of RA and gave an intuition of the scientific validation of Kashayams, an Ayurvedic classical medicine.
Keywords: Kashayams, Toll-like receptor -4, Anti-Arthritic, Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, Type II collagen, Rheumatoid arthritis
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