Abstract
Background and Objectives: Joint disease, particularly rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating problem of current communities. Because of probable anti-inflammatory characteristics of mangrove and its use in traditional medicine, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of mangrove leaf extract on the treatment of Wistar arthritic rats.
Materials and Methods: Herbal extract (400 mg/kg body weight) and ibuprofen (53 mg/kg body weight) daily orally (gavage) in rat different groups were given for 21 days. Arthritis was induced with subcutaneous injection of 0.01 cc Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) into the sub plantar area of right hind paw of rats. ESR, ankle joint diameter, and arthritis index parameters were evaluated in both groups. Data was analyzed by statistical methods.
Results: ESR increased significantly (p<0.05) in arthritic group compared with normal group, but there were not any significant difference between mangrove extract and ibuprofen groups. In ankle diameter was increased significantly (p<0.05) after injury and because of the effect of extract and drug, paw swelling decreased from day 8 to 21.
Conclusion: It seems that because of its different compounds, the mangrove leaf probably has been profound anti-inflammatory properties on the arthritis.