title: In vivo anti-arthritic efficacy of Camellia sinensis (L.) in collagen induced arthritis model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune inflammatory disorder with synovial hyperplasia, destruction of cartilage, bone damage is often associated with risk of infections. Such risk could be attributed towards usage of immunosuppressive agents. Thus, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-arthritic efficacy of aquo-alcoholic extract of Camellia sinensis (L.).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dried leaves of Camellia sinensis (L.) or Cs were filtered and extracted in 1:1 aqueous: ethanol by Soxhlet apparatus followed by lyophilization and spray drying to develop amorphous powder. Four different oral doses (50, 100, 200, 400mg/kg/body wt.) of aquo-alcoholic extract were evaluated for anti-edematogenic effect in collagen induced arthritis model. The selected anti-arthritic doses of Cs were evaluated for the oxidative stress markers like Glutathione [5-5'dithio-bis-2-nitrobenzoicacid (DTNB)], Superoxide dismutase [Epinephrine], Catalase [Hydrogen peroxide], Lipid peroxidation [Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS)], Nitric oxide [Griess reagents:Nitrobluetetrazolium], Articular elastase [N-methoxysuccinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro- Val p-nitroanilide] in joints followed by haematological evaluation including RBC, WBC, Haemoglobin, platelets and haematocrit. To validate these biochemical changes, the radiological and histopathological (Haematoxylin & Eosin) evaluation was also conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The selected anti-arthritic dose of Cs i.e. 400mg/kg/body wt. (∼60% anti-arthritic efficacy on 35th day) could be attributed towards significant (p<0.05) increase in the levels of enzymatic (Superoxide dismutase and Catalase) and non-enzymatic (Glutathione) antioxidants by 34%, 59% and 50% respectively. Simultaneously, the significant (p<0.05) reduction of lipid peroxides, nitrite radical and elastase activity by 32%, 45% & 32% respectively as compare to control indicated overall decrease in oxidative stress. Haematological evaluation revealed restoration of RBC, WBC and platelets level in treatment group. The confirmatory analysis utilizing radiological and histological assessment showed alleviation of joint deformity, tissue swelling, pannus formation and neutrophils infiltration in treatment group as compared to collagen induced arthritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis showed that Cs can play an effective role in reduction of oxidative stress by modulating levels of antioxidants, reducing levels of free radicals while restoring normal haematopoietic cascade as observed in collagen induced arthritis model. Thus, the cumulative dose impact of 400mg/kg body wt., over a period of 14days also found extremely effective in terms of safeguarding their structural conformity against such auto-immune disorder.
authors.affiliation: Heavy Metal and Clinical Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India; Division of CBRN Defence, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ankit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanwar
authors.affiliation: Division of CBRN Defence, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Raman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.affiliation: Heavy Metal and Clinical Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India.
authors.forename: Md Meraj
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: Heavy Metal and Clinical Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India.
authors.lastname: Neha
authors.affiliation: Division of CBRN Defence, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.affiliation: Division of CBRN Defence, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ankita Singh
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chakotiya
authors.affiliation: Division of CBRN Defence, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.affiliation: Division of CBRN Defence, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Himanshu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ojha
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine (U), Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asif
authors.affiliation: Division of CBRN Defence, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: Office of DG (LS), Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO Bhawan, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.affiliation: Heavy Metal and Clinical Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India. Electronic address: hakhantox@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Haider Ali
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D028241:Camellia sinensis; D005260:Female; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Aquo alcoholic extract; Camellia sinensis; Collagen induced arthritis; Oxidative stress