PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TANNIC ACID RICH FRACTION ISOLATED FROM DRIED FRUITS OF Terminalia chebula Retizus ON FORMALDEHYDE INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Objective: To study the effect of Tannic acid rich fraction isolated from dried fruits of Terminalia chebula Retizus (TARFITC) on formaldehyde induced arthritis in Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: The acute toxicity study of TARFITC was carried out according to OECD guidelines 423. In vitro parameters like inhibition of protein denaturation and membrane stabilizing activity were evaluated. Sub-plantar injection of formaldehyde (0.1 ml of 2% v/v) was used to induce arthritis in experimental animals. Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n=5) and received vehicle, TARFITC (250 and 500 mg/kg) and diclofenac sodium (25 mg/kg) orally from day 1 to day 9. Changes in paw volume, tibiotarsal joint thickness, joint stiffness, motility, joint hyperalgesia and arthritis index were measured on day 4, 8, 14 and 21 after administration of the respective vehicle/drug treatment. Other parameters like thermal hyperalgesia, dorsal flexion score, stair climbing, organ weight, erythrocyte sedimentation rate were also evaluated. In-vivo antioxidant status in formaldehyde induced arthritis in rats was determined using levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSH) and extent of lipid peroxidation (LPO).

Results: TARFITC (250 and 500 mg/kg) exhibited significant changes in above mentioned parameters. TARFITC significantly increased the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH, while extent of LPO was significantly decreased in animals treated with formaldehyde.

Conclusion: The results of the investigation concluded that TARFITC possess a significant anti-arthritic activity against formaldehyde induced arthritis model justifying its traditional therapeutic role in arthritic condition.