title: Ameliorating effect of Kalpaamruthaa, a Siddha preparation in adjuvant induced arthritis in rats with reference to changes in proinflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As disease initiation and propagation still represents a research question in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the cytokines play a central role in the inflammatory articular process including the synovial proliferation and cartilage destruction in RA and understanding the role of these cytokines in turn exploits them as therapeutic targets in RA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study illustrates the beneficial outcome of the Siddha drug Kalpaamruthaa (KA) in reducing the pathological lesions caused by the proinflammatory cytokines in adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA) in rats. KA consists of Semecarpus anacardium nut milk extract (SA), dried powder of Emblica officinalis fruit and honey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both SA and KA were administered at dose of 150 mg/kg b.wt. for 14 days after 14 days of adjuvant injection in rats. The protein expressions of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), the levels of acute phase proteins, immunoglobulins and the radiological, histopathological and electron microscopical changes in control and experimental animals were analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both SA and KA significantly regulated the inflammation in arthritic joints by reducing extracellular matrix degradation and cartilage and bone destruction via down regulating the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, as well the levels of acute phase proteins with appreciable increase in the levels of immunoglobulins in arthritic rats. Of both the drugs KA exhibited a profound effect than sole treatment of SA and the enhanced effect of KA might be attributed to the combined effect of the flavonoids, tannins, vitamin C and other phytoconstituents present in the drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai 600113, India.
authors.forename: Rajendran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mythilypriya
authors.forename: Palanivelu Shanthi
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sachdanandam
authors.forename: Panchanadam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sachdanandam