Primary evaluation of selected steroid containing herbs for their corticoid potential in rats by Freund’s adjuvant arthritis

Abstract

Many pharmacologic activities of steroid containing plants like Wildyam, Kanthkari, Agave spices, Indian Sarsaparilla and
Fenugreek have been reported. In order to find a safer alternate steroid treatment for management of various ailments, we
have resolved to investigate corticoid potential of herbal steroids by freund’s adjuvant arthritis. Anti-inflammatory
compounds do not inhibit secondary lesions, which are prevented or diminished by immunosuppressive agents and both
anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory action suggest test drug’s corticoid potential. In present study Albino Wistar
Male rats with an initial body weight of 150 to 200 g was injected into the sub plantar region of the left hind paw with 0.1
ml of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Ra) suspended in incomplete freund’s adjuvant (4mg/ml). All ethanolic extract of test drugs Trigonella foenum graecum (ETF), Dioscorea alata (EDA), Hemidesmus indicus (EHI), Agave americana (EAA) and Solanum xanthocarpum (ESX) 300mg/kg per rat and the standard (Hydrocortisone-Primacort200) 10 mg per rat administered orally for 12 days. Purposely, from day 13 to 21, the animals received neither test compound nor the standard. Paw volumes of both sides and body weight were recorded on the day of injection, day 5, day 12, day 17 and day 21 whereby paw volume is measured plethysmographically. The severity of the secondary lesions on day 12 is evaluated visually and graded according scheme. The %inhibition of paw volume and suppression of arthritic lesion on day 21 for HC, EHI, EAA and ESX found highly significant while ETF and EDA showed significant result (p<0.05).