Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is a private university located in&nbsp;Tamil Nadu, India. Founded in 1984, as Vellore Engineering College, the institution offers 20 undergraduate, 34 postgraduate, four integrated and four research programs. It has campuses in Vellore, Amravati, Bhopal and Chennai.

VIT is one of the top ranked private universities in India according to NIRF, THE and QS Rankings.&nbsp;Govt. of India has recognized&nbsp;VIT, Vellore as an&nbsp;Institution of Eminence. This has allowed VIT to take independent quality initiatives and move up in world ranking.

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VIT University

The aim of this research is to determine the anti-peroxidative potential of Spirulina fusiformis in adjuvant-induced arthritis with respect to lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant status. Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (0.1 ml) into the right hind paw of Swiss albino mice. Spirulina fusiformis (800mg/kg/day) and Indomethacin (3mg/kg/day) were orally administered for 8 days (from 11th to 18th day) after adjuvant injection. The lipid peroxide level, enzymic and non-enzymic-antioxidants status were measured in blood, liver and spleen of control and arthritic animals. In arthritic animals, the lipid peroxidation was found to be increased, whereas the decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and non-enzymic antioxidant levels (Glutathione, vitamin C, and thiol groups), were observed. These observed alterations were significantly modulated to near normal levels by oral administration of Spirulina fusiformis (800mg/kg/day) in arthritic animals. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence that it may have a promising anti-arthritic role against rheumatoid arthritis. However, biochemical and metabolic analysis of the constituents of Spirulina fusiformis is on underway to investigate its mechanism of action.

Department of Bio-Sciences

School of Bio Sciences and Technology

Vellore Campus

World University root node

Pharmacologyonline

Evaluation of the protective potential of Spirulina fusiformis on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in adjuvant-induced arthritic mice

In the present study, attempts have been made to evaluate the antiarthritic effect of the Indian Ayurvedic herbal formulation Triphala on adjuvant-induced arthritis in mice and to compare it with that of the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug indomethacin. Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (0.1 mL) into the right hind paw of Swiss albino mice. Triphala (1 g/kg/bxwt) and indomethacin (3 mg/kg/bxwt) were administered orally for 8 days (from day 11 to 18) after adjuvant injection. The levels of lysosomal enzymes, tissue marker enzymes, glycoproteins and paw thickness were increased in adjuvant-induced arthritic animals. The body weight was found to be reduced when compared with the control animals. These physical and biochemical changes observed in arthritic animals were altered significantly to near normal conditions after oral administration of Triphala (1 g/kg/bxwt). The results obtained clearly indicate the fact that the Indian Ayurvedic herbal formulation Triphala has promising antiinflammatory activity.

Department of Bio-Medical Sciences

Phytotherapy Research

Antiinflammatory effect of the Indian Ayurvedic herbal formulation Triphala on adjuvant-induced arthritis in mice

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of Withania somnifera Linn.Dunal (family-Solanaceae), commonly known as Ashwagandha, on adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. Results were compared with those for Indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (0.1 mL) into the right hind paw of Wistar albino rats. Withania somnifera root powder (1000 mg/kg/day) and Indomethacin (3 mg/kg/day) were orally administered for 8 days (from 11th to 18th day) after adjuvant injection. The anti-arthritic effect of W. somnifera root powder was assessed by measuring changes in lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, and glycoprotein levels in plasma and spleen of arthritic animals. In addition, cartilage degradation was also assessed by estimating bone collagen, and urinary constituents in arthritic animals. Results of the present investigation showed significant increase in the level of lipid peroxides, glycoproteins, and urinary constituents with the depletion of antioxidant status and bone collagen in arthritic animals. These biochemical alterations observed were ameliorated significantly by oral administration of W. somnifera root powder (1000 mg/kg body weight) in arthritic animals. The results of this study clearly indicate that W. somnifera root powder is capable of rectifying the above biochemical changes in adjuvant arthritis. © 2007 The Authors.

Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology

Protective effect of Withania somnifera root powder in relation to lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, glycoproteins and bone collagen on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

The effect of Withania somnifera L. Dunal root powder on paw volume and serum lysosomal enzyme activities was investigated in monosodium urate crystal-induced rats. The levels of beta-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase were also measured in monosodium urate crystal incubated polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL). A significant increase in the level of paw volume and serum lysosomal enzymes was observed in monosodium urate crystal-induced rats. The increased beta-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase level were observed in untreated monosodium urate crystal incubated polymorphonuclear leucocytes. On treatment with the W. somnifera root powder (500/1000 mg/kg body weight), the above changes were reverted back to near normal levels. W. somnifera also showed potent analgesic and antipyretic effect with the absence of gastric damage at different dose levels in experimental rats. For comparison purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indomethacin was used as a standard. These results provide evidence for the suppressive effect of W. somnifera root powder by retarding amplification and propagation of the inflammatory response without causing any gastric damage.

Chemico-Biological Interactions

Suppressive effect of Withania somnifera root powder on experimental gouty arthritis: An in vivo and in vitro study

The aqueous suspension of Withania somnifera root powder was investigated for their in vivo and in vitro immunomodulatory properties. W. somnifera showed potent inhibitory activity towards the complement system, mitogen induced lymphocyte proliferation and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. Administration of W. somnifera root powder did not have a significant effect on humoral immune response in rats. Our results report immunosuppressive effect of W. somnifera root powder, thus it could be a candidate for developing as an immunosuppressive drug for the inflammatory diseases. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vascular Pharmacology

Immunomodulatory role of Withania somnifera root powder on experimental induced inflammation: An in vivo and in vitro study

The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Spirulina fusiformis on adjuvant-induced arthritis in mice. Arthritis was induced by intra dermal injection of complete freund's adjuvant (0.1 ml) into the right hind paw of Swiss albino mice. Spirulina fusiformis (800 mg/kg/b.wt) was orally administered for 8 d (from 11th to 18th day) to arthritic animals after adjuvant injection. The anti-inflammatory activity of Spirulina fusiformis was assessed by measuring paw volume, body weight, levels of lysosomal enzymes, tissue marker enzymes and glycoproteins in control and experimental animals. In adjuvant-induced arthritic animals, the levels of lysosomal enzymes, tissue marker enzymes, glycoproteins and the paw volume were increased significantly. However the body weight was found to be reduced when compared to control animals. Oral administration of Spirulina fusiformis (800 mg/kg/b.wt) significantly altered these above physical and biochemical changes observed in arthritic animals to near normal conditions. Hence results of this study clearly indicate that Spirulina fusiformis has promising anti-inflammatory activity against adjuvant-induced arthritic animals. © 2006 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.

VIT Unitversity

Fulltext

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Spirulina fusiformis on Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Mice

Adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA) is accompanied by marked changes in the levels of lysosomal enzymes, glycoproteins and metabolic turnover of collagen. The role of a pentacyclic triterpene and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) derivative - Lupeol-EPA (50 mg/kg body weight - orally) was tested in vivo in rats. The increased activities of lysosomal enzymes and glycoproteins associated with decreased collagen in arthritic animals were significantly altered to nearly that of controls. Indomethacin (3 mg/kg body weight) was used as a reference compound. The therapeutic usefulness of Lupeol-EPA derivative in inflammatory conditions is attractive and deserves further work in this direction. © 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids

A novel derivative pentacyclic triterpene and ω3 fatty acid [Lupeol-EPA] in relation to lysosomal enzymes glycoproteins and collagen in adjuvant induced arthritis in rats

The effect of Withania somnifera Linn. Dunal (Solanaceae) on adjuvant arthritic rats was studied and compared with that of indomethacin. The anti- inflammatory activity of Withania somnifera was assessed by measuring paw swelling and lysosomal enzyme activity in control and experimental rats. Increased paw diameter and lysosomal enzyme activity in the arthritic animals were significantly suppressed to near normal levels in rats treated with 1000 mg kg-1 Withania somnifera root powder and 3 mg kg-1 indomethacin. These results indicate that Withania somnifera has promising anti-arthritic activity as a result of its stabilizing action on lysosomal enzyme activity.