Suppressive effects of total alkaloids of Lycopodiastrum casuarinoides on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Lycopodiastrum casuarinoides is a folk medicine used to treat inflammation-associated diseases including rheumatoid arthritis in South China. Since the major secondary metabolites in Lycopodiastrum casuarinoides are alkaloids, the present study aims to investigate the suppressive effects of total alkaloids of Lycopodiastrum casuarinoides (ALC) on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in rats. Materials and methods: AA was induced (day 0) in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in right hind footpad. Diclofenac sodium (SD) was chosen as the positive drug. SD (10 mg/kg) and ALC (20 and 40 mg/kg) administration started from day 1 and continued for 28 days. Paw swelling, arthritis scores, and histopathological changes were evaluated. In addition, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B expressions in joint synovial tissues were detected. Results: ALC administration significantly suppressed the inflammatory responses in the joints of AA rats. It also decreased the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and PGE2. Moreover, Western blot analysis showed that COX-2 and NF-kappa B expressions in synovial tissues of AA rats were significantly reduced. Conclusion: These results indicated that ALC prevented the pathological development of AA in rats. ALC may be a potential candidate for the treatment of inflammation and arthritis. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.