Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disorder, affects cellular aspects of articular region, tendon and cartilage while the immune system assaults vital joint spaces. Activation of inflammatory reactivity in the synovial fluid and lining of joints is the characteristic feature of RA. Proinflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are elevated in the synovial fluid of the RA patients. In western countries, the prevalence rate of RA is 1%, where females seem to be three to five times more susceptible to its advent, resulting in pronounced deterioration in the quality of life. The frontline treatment for RA, Disease Modifying Anti-rheumatoid Drugs (DMARD) along with Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID), is aimed at reducing inflammation in the arthritic milieu maybe by nonselective cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzyme inhibition. Although COX inhibition curtails PG synthesis, several patients undergoing treatment had elevated levels of PG in the synovial fluid. NSAIDs, selective as well as nonselective, are known to develop potential risks ranging from gastrointestinal bleeding to cardiovascular toxicity. Despite recent development of specific antibody-based therapy, the therapeutic spectrum of RA still presents a high unmet need in terms of safety and efficacy. Hence, a pleiotropic, nontoxic herb could be worth investigating for long term use without exhibiting major side effects.
Traditional medicinal herbs offer a better risk-benefit ratio and are used commonly for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Ayurveda recommended the use of a combination of herbs or individual herb for the treatment of RA. The practitioners of Ayurveda considered these ancient recipes safe and effective for centuries. One of these herbs is Jasminum sambac Linn. (JS), an evergreen vine or shrub, belonging to family Oleaceae. A compendium of Indian medicinal plants mentioned the role of herbs from Jasminum genus in vitiated conditions of pitta, inflammations, rheumatism, and cephalalgia. Ayurvedic texts referred to JS as a potent anti-inflammatory remedy along with its galactagogue potentials. Similarly, Chinese and Thai folk medicine systems also use the oil of JS for the treatment of arthritis, conjunctivitis, and gastritis.
Scientific evaluations of the root extract of JS exhibited anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic activity while its methanolic extract had free radical scavenging activity. Major active constituent present in root and leaf extract like salicylic acid, compounds (+)-jasminoids A, B, C, and D are expected to have potent COX inhibitory activity. Moreover, flower extract contain coumarin, cardiac glycoside, essential oil, flavonoid, phenol, saponin, and steroid responsible for its biological activities and are well tolerated at high doses in murine models.
Besides, other species of the Jasminum genus have beneficial effects on chronic inflammation, indicating the role of the arachidonic acid pathway and endothelial vaso-relaxation in its therapeutic activity. Although various parts of JS are used for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders, the systematic evaluation of its rich phytoconstituents in arthritis is still warranted.
Interestingly, the choice of suitable murine model is always critical for reproducible outcomes in preclinical evaluations. Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in Lewis rats with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) is a preferred immune-mediated arthritis model that mimics most of the pathological as well as clinical features of RA. Acknowledging these facts, we designed this study to explore the crosstalk between COX, ROS, and the progression of arthritis. It aims at systematically investigating the mechanistic basis of anti-inflammatory activity of the JS concerning RA in CFA induced arthritis model using Lewis rats.
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