Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Ethanol Extract of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) Seeds on Freund's Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Albino Rats

  • Published:
Inflammation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Trigonella foenum graecum is an Iranian medicinal plant used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation. The present study was designed to investigate the beneficial outcome of the plant T. foenum graecum on adjuvant-induced arthritis in albino rats. Ethanol extract of T. foenum graecum was tested against Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. In the present study, paw volume was measured on the 4th, 8th, 14th and 21st day. On day 22, animals were anaesthetized, and blood samples were collected for the estimation of haemoglobin, white blood cells (WBC), differential white blood cells, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), red blood cells (RBC), interleukins (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The animals were sacrificed, and the cartilage tissue was isolated for estimation of lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). Administration with both doses of T. foenum graecum (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the paw oedema and restored body weight. T. foenum graecum significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the differential WBC count, ESR and WBC (5.833 ± 0.703, 6.989 ± 58.5) content and also showed significant (P < 0.05) increase in RBC and Hb (4.783 ± 0.46, 15.46 ± 0.158) content. T. foenum graecum significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α levels. It also significantly decreased the levels of LPO and increased the SOD and GSH levels in cartilage tissue. In this study, T. foenum graecum 400-mg/kg dose showed more prominent results compared to the 200-mg/kg dose of T. foenum graecum. The results obtained in this study suggest that anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of T. foenum graecum may be the possible reason behind the observed anti-arthritic activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Yeom, M.J., H.C. Lee, G.H. Kim, H.J. Lee, I. Shim, S.K. Oh, S.K. Kang, and D.H. Hahm. 2006. Anti-arthritic effects of Ephedra sinica STAPF herb-acupuncture: Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and adjuvant-induced polyarthritis. Journal of Pharmacological Sciences 100: 41–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mclnnes, I.B., and G. Schett. 2007. Cytokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Nature Reviews Immunology 7: 429–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Van den Berg, W.B., et al. 1999. TNF alpha and IL-1 beta are separate targets in chronic arthritis. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 17(Suppl. 18): S105–S114.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Olsen, N.J., and C.M. Stein. 2004. New drugs for rheumatoid arthritis. The New England Journal of Medicine 350: 2167–2179.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Merry, Winyard, Morris, Grootveld, and Blake. 1989. Review: Oxygen free radicals, inflammation, and synovitis: The current status. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 48: 864–870.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Narendrakannan, R.T., S. Subramanian, and M. Kandaswamy. 2005. Free radical scavenging activity of Cleome gynandra L. leaves on adjuvant induced arthritis in rats. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 276: 71–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bauerova, K., and A. Bezek. 1999. Role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in etiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. General Physiology and Biophysics 18: 15–20.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kirtikar, K.R., and B.D. Basu. 2006. Indian medicinal plants, Vol. I., 700–701. Dehradun: International Book Distributors.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ahmadiani, A., M. Javan, S. Semnanian, E. Barat, and M. Kamalinejad. 2001. Anti inflammatory and antipyretic effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum leaves extract in the rat. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 75: 283–286.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bhatti, M., M. Khan, B. Ahmed, M. Jamshaid, and W. Ahmed. 1996. Antibacterial activity of Trigonella foenum graecum seeds. Fitotherapia 67: 372–374.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ashish Toppo, F., R. Akhand, and A.K. Pathak. 2009. Pharmacological actions and potential uses of Trigonella foenum-graecum: A review. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 2(4): 29–38.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Petit, P., Y. Sauvaire, G. Ponsin, M. Manteghetti, A. Fave, and G. Ribes. 1993. Effect of a fenugreek seed extraction on feeding behavior in the rat: Metabolic-endocrine correlates. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 45(2): 369–374.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sharma, R.D., T.C. Raghuram, and N.S. Rao. 1990. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood glucose and serum lipid in type I diabetes. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 44: 301–306.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Stark, A., and Z. Madar. 1993. The effect of an ethanol extract derived from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) on bile acid absorption and cholestrol levels in rats. British Journal of Nutrition 69(1): 277–287.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zargari, A. 1989. Medicinal plants, vol. 1, 637–639. Iran: Tehran University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mirhaydar, H. 1993. Plant information, vol. 1, 145. Iran: Nashre Farhang Islami Press.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Austin A, Jagadeesan M, Thinakaran M, Sompathkumar B. 2001. Arthritis – a clinical study with ‘ligha chendooram’ – number 1 – a Siddha drug. Indian Drugs 38(8):421–425.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Novick, D., Z. Eshhar, M. Revel, and Y. Mory. 1989. Monoclonal antibodies for affinity purification of IL-6/IFN-#2 and for neutralization of HGF activity. Hybridoma 8: 561–567.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Halliwell, B., and J.M.C. Gutteridge. 1999. Free radicals in biology and medicine, 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Nam, J.H., H.J. Jung, J. Choi, K.T. Lee, and H.J. Park. 2006. The anti-gastropathic and anti-rheumatic effect of Niga-ichigoside F1 and 23-hydroxytormentic acid isolated from the unripe fruits of Rubus coreanus in a rat model. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 29: 967–970.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ellman, G.L. 1959. Tissue sulfhydryl groups. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 82: 70–77.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Amresh, G., P.N. Singh, and Ch.V. Rao. 2007. Antinociceptive and antiarthritic activity of Cissampelos pareira roots. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 11(3): 531–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Jones, R.S., and J.W. Ward. 1966. Adjuvant-induced polyarthritis in rats. In Methods and Achievements in Experimental Pathology, ed. E. Bajusz and G. Jasmin, 607–638. New York: S. Karger.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Colpaert, F.C., T. Meert, P. Witte, and P. Schmitt. 1982. Further evidence validating adjuvant arthritis as an experimental model of chronic pain in the rat. Life Sciences 31: 67–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Choi, J., K.T. Lee, H.J. Jung, H.S. Park, and H.J. Park. 2002. Anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect of the Kochia scoparia fruits and activity comparison of momordin lc, its prosapogenin and sapogenin. Archives of Pharmaceutical Research 25: 336–342.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Gao, Qin, Jinjun Shan, Liuqing Di, Lijun Jiang, and Huiqin Xu. 2008. Therapeutic effects of daphnetin on adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 120: 259–263.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Crofford, L.J., and R.L. Wilder. 1993. Arthritis and autoimmunity in animals. In Arthritis and allied conditions, ed. D.J. Mccarty and W.J. Koopman, 525–539. London: Lea and Febiger.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Eric, G.B., and J.L. Lawrence. 1996. Rheumatoid arthritis and its therapy, the Textbook of therapeutic drugs and disease management, 6th ed, 579–595. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Calvino, B., M.O. Bernard, and D.L. Bars. 1987. Parallel clinical and behavioural studies of adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rats: Possible relationship with chronic pain. Behavioural Brain Research 24: 11–29.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Chitme, H.R., and N.P. Patel. 2009. Antiarthritis activity of aristolochia bracteata extract in experimental animals. The Open Natural Products Journal 2: 6–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Walz, D.T., M.J. Di Martimo, and A. Misher. 1971. Adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. II: Drug effects of physiologic, biochemical and immunologic parameters. Journal of Pharmacology 178: 223–231.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. William, J.K. 1996. Arthritis and allied condition, a textbook of rheumatology. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins. 1(3): 207–226.

  33. Patil, Kalpesh Ramdas, Chandragouda Raosaheb Patil, and Ramchandra Baburao Jadhav. 2011. Anti-arthritic activity of bartogenic acid isolated from fruits of Barringtonia racemosa Roxb. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

  34. Mapp, P.I., M.C. Grootveld, and D.R. Blake. 1995. Hypoxia, oxidative stress and RA. British Medical Bulletin 51: 419–536.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Weyand, C.M. 2000. The role of T cells in RA. Arthritis and Rheumatism 43: I122–I133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Kubota, E., T. Kubota, J. Matsumoto, T. Shibata, and K.I. Murakami. 1998. Synovial fluid cytokines and proteinases as markers of temporomandibular joint disease. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 56: 192–198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Alstergren, P., M. Ernberg, M. Kvarnstrom, and S. Kopp. 1998. Interleukin-1beta in synovial fluid from the arthritic temporomandibular joint and its relation to pain, mobility, and anterior open bite. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 56: 1059–1065.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Rooney, M., J.A. Symons, and G.W. Duff. 1990. Interleukin 1 beta in synovial fluid is related to local disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology International 10: 217–219.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Ulfgren, A.K., L. Grondal, S. Lindblad, M. Khademi, O. Johnell, L. Klareskog, and U. Andersson. 2000. Interindividual and intra-articular variation of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Potential implications for treatment. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 59: 439–447.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. De Leo, M.E., A. Tranghese, M. Passantino, et al. 2002. Manganese superoxide dismutase glutathione peroxidase and total radical trapping antioxidation capacity in active rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Rheumatology 29: 2245–2246.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Arulmozhi, S., P. Mitra Mazumderb, L. Sathiyanarayanan, and P. Ashok. 2011. Anti-arthritic and antioxidant activity of leaves of Alstonia scholaris Linn. R.Br. European Journal of Integrative Medicine 81: 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of Interest

None

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, St. Peter’s Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Warangal, AP, India

    P. Suresh, Ch. N. Kavitha, S. Manohar Babu & A. Kanaka Latha

  2. Department of Pharmaceutics, St. Peter’s Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Warangal, AP, India, 506001

    V. Prabhakar Reddy

Authors
  1. P. Suresh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ch. N. Kavitha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Manohar Babu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. V. Prabhakar Reddy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Kanaka Latha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Suresh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Suresh, P., Kavitha, C.N., Babu, S.M. et al. Effect of Ethanol Extract of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) Seeds on Freund's Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Albino Rats. Inflammation 35, 1314–1321 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-012-9444-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-012-9444-7

KEY WORDS

Search

Navigation