Anti-rheumatoid activity of a hexane-insoluble fraction from Plantago major in female Wistar rats induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Plantago major has long been used for medical purposes in Indonesia. However, reports on the anti-arthritic activities of P. major are limited. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: The anti-arthritic properties of an n-hexane-insoluble fraction of dichloromethane extracts of P. major (IPM) were evaluated using Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis induced in female Wistar rat by CFA. Diclofenac was used as a positive control. The volume of paw oedema, white blood cell count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, expression of TNF-α and Interleukin-6 and the histopathological features of the joint tissues were assessed to characterise IPM activity. RESULTS: The IPM extract at doses of 280 and 420 mg/kg BW and diclofenac inhibited paw oedema by 15.70 %, 15.94 % and 19.71 % respectively. IPM also reduced the incidence of arthritis and arthritic index. Unlike untreated rats, animals treated with IPM showed a significant decrease in the number of neutrophils and decreased expression of TNF-α and Interleukin-6. Histopathological examination showed a reduction in the number of inflammatory cells and hyperplasia of the synovium after IPM treatment. CONCLUSION: This study showed that P. major displays anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity.