Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of Curcuma longa (turmeric) versus Zingiber officinale (ginger) rhizomes in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis.
Turmeric (rich in curcuminoids) and ginger (rich in gingerols and shogaols) rhizomes have been widely used as dietary spices and to treat different diseases in Ayurveda/Chinese medicine since antiquity. Here, we compared the anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant activity of these two plants in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA). Both plants (at dose 200 mg/kg body weight) significantly suppressed (but with different degrees) the incidence and severity of arthritis by increasing/decreasing the production of anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory cytokines, respectively, and activating the anti-oxidant defence system. The anti-arthritic activity of turmeric exceeded that of ginger and indomethacin (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), especially when the treatment started from the day of arthritis induction. The percentage of disease recovery was 4.6-8.3% and 10.2% more in turmeric compared with ginger and indomethacin (P < 0.05), respectively. The present study proves the anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant activity of turmeric over ginger and indomethacin, which may have beneficial effects against rheumatoid arthritis onset/progression as shown in AIA rat model.
Biological Science Department, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Hufof, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. gamal_ramadan@hotmail.com
Gamal
G
Ramadan
Mohammed Ali
MA
Al-Kahtani
Wael Mohamed
WM
El-Sayed
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D007213:Indomethacin