title: Preliminary investigation of the effects of topical mixture of Lawsonia inermis L. and Ricinus communis L. leaves extract in treatment of osteoarthritis using MIA model in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many plants have been introduced in Iranian traditional medicine for treatment of different joint problems including knee pain. Topical application of the mixture of Lawsonia inermis L. leaves (Henna) with aqueous extract of Ricinus communis L. leaves have been mentioned to have significant effects on reducing knee pain. The present study was designed to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the mixture of these two herbs in male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  We induced knee osteoarthritis as a model of chronic pain by intra-articular injection of mono sodium iodoacetate (MIA). Mechanical allodynia, hotplate latency test, spontaneous movements and gait analysis were used for the evaluation of analgesic activity. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by measuring the diameter and the volume of the injected paw compared to contralateral paw. These tests were monitored at days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 of MIA administration. Histopathological evaluations were also used to assess the efficacy of the treatment on inflammation and lesions in knee tissue. In all tests, diclofenac topical gel was used as a positive control. The herbal extracts, their mixture, and vehicle or diclofenac gel were administered daily for 14 days by topical route.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mixture of these two extracts significantly reduced the knee joint width and volume of the injected paws and also improved foot prints in gait analysis after 3 days of MIA injection. Analysis of mechanical allodynia (after 21 days), hotplate latency test (after 10 days), spontaneous movements (after 7 days) and in positive control group (after 3 days in all tests and in mechanical allodynia after 14 days) compared to the vehicle group, showed significant effects. Topical usage of the selected formulation made significant histopathological changes on the knee of the rats. Compared to the vehicle group, the tests and diclofenac groups showed less reactions characterized by negligible edema and a few scattered inflammatory lymphoid cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings showed that the present formulation not only was able to mitigate pain and inflammation in the paws but also made significant histopathological changes on the knee of the rats. Further studies are necessary to confirm the effect of the formulation.
authors.affiliation: Traditional Medicine and Material Medical Research Center; Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Atousa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziaei
authors.affiliation: Traditional Medicine and Material Medical Research Center; Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shamim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahranavard
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gharagozlou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. m.faizi@sbmu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faizi
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects; D019807:Iodoacetic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D031564:Lawsonia Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D012278:Ricinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019807:Iodoacetic Acid
keywords: Lawsonia inermis L; Leaves; MIA; Osteoarthritis; Rats; Ricinus communis L