title: Anti-arthritic activity of ethanol extract of Claoxylon indicum on Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritis in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Claoxylon indicum Hassk. (Euphorbiaceae), named Diu Le Bang, have functions of dehumidification and relieving swelling pain, and is used as a folk medicine to treat Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lumbocrural pain and foot edema in the south of China. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-arthritic activity of the ethanol extract of Claoxylon indicum (CIE) on mice with adjuvant induced joint arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adjuvant arthritis was induced in mice by subcutaneous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the plantar surface of right hind paw. Arthritis severity was evaluated by arthritic score, hind paws oedema and spleen index, and histological examinations. Serum samples were collected for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. The expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the specimens of knee joints was determined by standard immunohistochemical techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CIE administration (0.4 and 0.8 g/kg) suppressed the inflammatory responses in the joints of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) mice, suggested by the modulatory effects on paw swelling, hyperplasia of lymphatic tissues and synovial membrane. It also decreased the levels of MDA and ALP in serum and downregulated the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in the arthritic joints of AIA mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that CIE possessed substantial anti-arthritic activity due to immumodepression and regulation of cytokines. CIE may be a potential candidate for the treatment of RA.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, POB 210023, Nanjing, China. achenyong@gmail.com.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Material of Chinese Medicine, POB 210023 , Nanjing, China. achenyong@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3568-6850
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, POB 210023, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Wen
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, POB 210023, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, POB 210023, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, POB 210023, Nanjing, China. lixiang_8182@163.com.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Material of Chinese Medicine, POB 210023 , Nanjing, China. lixiang_8182@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000431:Ethanol; D019665:Euphorbiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000431:Ethanol; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant
keywords: Adjuvant arthritis; Claoxylon indicum; Inflammation; Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)