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Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, arrests arthritis through modulation of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers in Wistar rats

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Abstract

Diosgenin (DGN) is a well-known steroidal sapogenin that is obtained from the hydrolysis of dioscin. The current research aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic potential of DGN alone and in combination with methotrexate (MTX). The in-vitro antioxidant, and anti-arthritic potential was assessed by protein denaturation and Human red blood cell membrane stabilization assays. The in-vivo anti-inflammatory effect was examined by carrageenan-induced paw edema and xylene-induced ear edema methods. The arthritis was induced in Wistar rats by inoculation of 0.1 ml Complete Freund’s adjuvant in the left hind paw at day 1. The arthritic animals received MTX 1 mg/kg as standard, DGN at 5, 10, 20 mg/kg, and a combination treatment (DGN 20 mg/kg + MTX) was administered orally from 8 to 28th day while normal and disease control received normal saline. DGN at 1600 μg/ml exhibited the highest in-vitro activities in contrast to other tested concentrations. DGN at 20 mg/kg exhibited the maximum (p < 0.05–0.0001) inhibition of inflammation in carrageenan and xyleneinduced edema models. Treatment with DGN and MTX alone and in combination significantly reduced the paw diameter, body weight, arthritic index, and pain. It restored altered blood parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers in contrast to the diseased control rats. DGN profoundly (P < 0.0001) downregulated mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-ĸβ, and COX-2 while upregulated IL-4 and -10 in treated rats. The combination of DGN with MTX showed the highest therapeutic efficacy than individual therapy, so it can be used as an adjunct for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

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Authors declare that all the data supporting the findings of this study are included in the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Maira Javed & Ammara Saleem

  2. Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore Campus, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Muhammad Furqan Akhtar

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  1. Maira Javed
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  2. Ammara Saleem
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Correspondence to Ammara Saleem or Muhammad Furqan Akhtar.

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Javed, M., Saleem, A. & Akhtar, M.F. Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, arrests arthritis through modulation of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers in Wistar rats. Inflammopharmacol 31, 1951–1966 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-023-01244-7

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