Anti-arthritic Activity of Chloroform Extract of Tubers Ofgloriosa Superba Linn

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive, disabling and autoimmune disorder characterized by pain, swelling and stiffness of the synovial joints. Gloriosa superba Linn. (familyLiliaceae) is one of the herbaceous climbers distributed throughout Western Ghats and well documented traditionally in Ayurveda system of medicine for various ailments like inflammation, gout, gonorrhea, leprosy, rheumatoid arthritis, jaundice,abortifacient and helminthesis infections. The plant is highly valued in modern medicine owing to the presence of alkaloids, mainly colchicines. Despite its wide spread use in traditional medicine for treatment of gout and rheumatism, the present study was to evaluate the effect of chloroform extract of tubers of Gloriosa superba in Freund’s complete Adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis using albino rats. Method: Arthritis was induced in male albino rats by intradermal injection of FCA (0.1 ml) in right hind paw. The groups were treated with test extract at a dose level of 30 mg/kg & 60 mg/kg/p.o, control (5% Tween80) and standard drug Diclofenac sodium(5.0 mg/kg/p.o.) from day 1-21. The changes in the paw edema and ankle joint diameter were measured by using plethysmometer and vernier caliper respectively on day 1,7,14, 21 and processed for histological assessment for evaluation of antiarthritic activity. Results: The chloroform extract of tubers of G superba has shown a dose dependent and significantly decreased paw edema and ankle diameter in treated groups as compared with arthritic group.Acute treatment of rheumatoid rats with an extract of G superba tubers produced a significant inhibitory effect on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Conclusions: Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of G superba in the treatment of RA and other inflammatory joint disorders. The plant merits further investigation to prove the mechanism of action and to isolate its phytoconstituents responsible for the activity.