Antioxidant and antiarthritic activities of the methanolic extract of Anthemis arvensis.

Abstract

Anthemis arvensis has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of many diseases. However, the antiarthritic activity of A. arvensis has still not been demonstrated. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and antiarthritic activities of the methanol extract of A. arvensis. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using Folin–Ciocalteu’s reagent and aluminium chloride assays, respectively. While, the antioxidant capacity was determined using DPPH test. The antiarthritic activity was evaluated using complete freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis model. Male wistar rats were immunized by intradermal injection of 0.1 mL of CFA into subplantar region in the right hind paw, and were orally treated daily with diclofenac 4 mg/kg and the extract of A. arvensis (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 24 days. Body weight, hind paw swelling, arthritic score, spleen and liver index, and ESR were evaluated. The methanol extract of A. arvensis showed a yield of 19,5%. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents was 74,54 ± 5,27 μg GAE/mg and 17,54 ± 0,76 μg QE/mg of dry extract, respectively. While the antioxidant activity represents a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 24 ± 2 μg/ml. In the in vivo study, the animals treated with A. arvensis showed significant improvement in joint swelling, arthritic score and ESR compared with AIA group. However, the treatment with the plant extract didn’t show any significant effect on body weight and spleen and liver indices. In conclusion, these results support the use of A. arvensis in folk medicine in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.