AB0178 Aqueous indian black tea extract protect adjuvant induced rheumatoid arthritis in experimental animal models
Authors: P. Datta, A. Gomes
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Background</h3> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the activation of synovial tissue lining the joint capsule, which results in the invasion of the cartilage and bone leading to the progressive joint dysfunction. Both sexes are affected but the females are more susceptible. The disease cause disability with the loss of working capacity. Conventional treatments with non steroid anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), TNFα antagonists have shown limited success, their side effects and toxicity call for a new alternative natural therapy. Throughout the history, tea drinking has been directly attributed to a plethora of health benefits. Therapeutic use of tea has been recognized in different systems of traditional medicine and it was well known from Chinese traditional medicine that tea is as antitoxic, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, and stomachic. <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of the study is to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of Indian black tea aqueous extract (BTE) on adjuvant induced experimental arthritic animal model. <h3>Methods</h3> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was induced in animal models by FCA (Frab0178.xmleund’s complete adjuvant) at a dose of (25μg.100<sup>-1</sup>gm). Male albino Wistar rats (120±10g) were used and they were divided into 5 groups: Group1: Sham control; Group2: Arthritis control, Group3: Standard, Group4: BTE treated (250mg/100gm per oral for 14days), Group5: BTE treated (500mg/100gm per oral for 14days). Anti-arthritic activity of BTE was examined through physical, urinary, serum parameters, synovial fluid parameters, histological structure and X-ray of joints were done. All animal experiments were approved by the Institutional animal ethics committee. All the results were expressed in terms of mean ± SEM (n=6) at each dose level. The level of significance was determined through one-way ANOVA, P&lt;0.05 was considered as the upper level of significance. <h3>Results</h3> It was observed that physical parameters (paw diametre &amp;ankle diameter), urinary markers (hydroxyproline, glucosamine, pyridoline, deoxypyridoline), serum enzymes (ACP/ALP), osteocalcin,cytokines (TNFα, IL6, IL 12, IL 4, PGE2 &amp; IL10) levels were changed significantly in Group 2 animals as compared with sham control group but these levels were restored significantly in BTE treated groups as compared with arthritic groups. Synovial fluid interleukins (TNFα,CINC1, IL 6, IL-10 &amp; IL-12) and serum anti oxidant pro oxidant markers (LPO,GSH and SOD) also showed significant findings. Bone ash minerals calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc levels were also restored after treatment with BTE. Histological studies of the joints showed partial restoration of the structural architecture of the joint after BTE treatment. X-ray of the joint showed periarticular bone resorption, periarticular bony erosions and joint space narrowing in the arthritic group of rats but BTE treatment showed partial restoration to arthritis-related joint changes as compared with arthritic control group of rats. <h3>Conclusions</h3> These the findings show that BTE possess distinct anti arthritic activity. Further studiesare in progress on the active constituent and mechanism of action. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None Declared