Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of herbal preparation EM 1201 in adjuvant arthritic rats

Background and objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the anti-arthritic and antioxidant effects of herbal and active organic ingredient complex (EM 1201) in rats with experimental adjuvant arthritis (AA). Materials and methods: AA was induced in 30 male Wistar rats by intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the left hind paw. The course of disease in 30 rats in response to the treatment with EM 1201 and diclofenac, the parameters including body weight, joint swelling, blood indices pro-/antioxidant status of blood serum, and histology of joints and the liver, were investigated. Results: Preparation EM 1201 showed anti-inflammatory effect analogous to diclofenac, improved blood indices, significantly decreased joint swelling and histological changes in them. Joint swelling was suppressed by 29%–42.8% and 9.3%–34.4% in response to administration of EM 1201 and diclofenac during the entire experiment. Both preparations significantly suppressed pannus formation, general inflammatory reaction and edema in soft periarticular tissues and synovium, diminished MDA level and elevated AOA in the blood serum. Significantly lower absolute and relative weight of the liver and lower dystrophic processes in it, and general inflammatory infiltration of hepatic stroma proved the positive effect of treatment with EM 1201. Conclusions: The present study suggests that EM 1201 has protective activity against arthritis and demonstrated its potential beneficiary effect analogical to diclofenac. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effect of EM 1201 in rats with AA support the need of further investigations by using it as supplementary agent alone or together with other anti-arthritic drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.