Arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation, the treatment of this disease requires the use of non-steroidal or steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Given the many side effects associated with conventional anti-inflammatory drugs, the use of herbal medicines would benefit patients. Mitracarpus scaber (Rubiaceae), is a herb whose leaves are used to treat skin conditions and relieve pain in the limbs. To elucidate the traditional use of the aerial parts of M. scaber, the present study was conducted on arthritic rats induced by Freund's complete adjuvant. Arthritis was induced in Wistar rats by injecting Freund's complete adjuvant solution into the right hind leg. Diclofenac and Celebrex were chosen as reference molecules. Administration of Diclofenac (5 mg/kg body weight) and Celebrex (10 mg/kg body weight) and the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of M. scaber at doses of 200; 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight began the day after injection and continued for 20 days. Leg swelling, biochemical and hematological parameters as well as fibrinogen levels were evaluated. Oral administration of the extract significantly suppressed inflammatory responses in the joints of arthritic rats. It did not cause liver damage in the rats during the twenty (20) days of treatment. These results indicate that the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of M. scaber prevents the pathological development of arthritis in rats. The active ingredients present in the extract could be potential agents for the treatment of inflammation and arthritis.
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