Anti-inflammatory effects of the root, stem and leaf extracts of Chloranthus serratus on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

Abstract

Context: Chloranthus serratus [(Thunb.) Roem. et Schult, (Chloranthaceae)] is a folk medicine used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate anti-arthritic effects of the ethanol extracts of the roots (ER), stems (ES) and leaves (EL) of C. serratus on adjuvant arthritis rats and related mechanisms. Materials and methods: The rats were immunized by intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, 0.18 mL) into the right hind feet, and received intragastric administrations of the ER, ES and EL (2.07, 1.61 and 0.58 g/kg/d, respectively) for 14 days. The anti-arthritic activity was assessed by swelling rates, serum indicators, antioxidant capacity, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. Results: The LD 50 of the ER, ES and EL was higher than 10.35, 8.05 and 2.90 g/kg/p.o., respectively. Extract treatments decreased swelling rates, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1b), migration inhibitory factor 1 (MIF-1), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels and positive expression of VEGF in the arthritic rats (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). The ER significantly decreased NO (3.91 ± 0.61 mmol/L), IL-6 (75.67 ± 16.83 pg/mL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (2.28 ± 0.32 nmol/mL) contents and clearly increased IFN-c (2082 ± 220.93 pg/mL) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (601.98 ± 38.40 U/mL) levels. The ES and EL did not reverse the changes in some indicators. All the extracts alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and synovial cell proliferation. Among them, the ER was the most pronounced. Discussion and conclusions: ER exerts the most promising effects, as shown by inhibiting the releases of inflammatory cytokines and enhancing antioxidant capacity, which provides a scientific basis for further research on C. serratus and its clinical applications.

Anti‑inflammatory activity of different isolated sites of Chloranthus serratus in complete Freund's adjuvant‑induced arthritic rats

“…The changes in the body weights of the rats (g)=FW x -IW. The states of the rats (fur color, mental state, activity status, diet and ankle swelling) were observed and recorded daily according to previous references ( 13 , 17 ).…”

“…Preliminary investigations were made via visits to the provinces or major medicine markets where C. serratus is sold that revealed that it induces anti-RA effects and is widely used as a folk remedy for RA treatment. Among the root, stem and leaf extracts of C. serratus , the root extract exerts the most promising effects on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in rats ( 13 ). However, the anti-RA activity of different isolated sites of the root extract has not been reported yet.…”

Oxidative stress-mediated hepatotoxicity in rats induced by ethanol extracts of different parts of Chloranthus serratus

“…Previous studies had shown that among the ethanol extracts of the roots, stems, and leaves of C. serratus, the ethanol extract of the roots had the least cardiac renal toxicity (Sun et al 2019a(Sun et al , 2020a). What's more, the ethanol extracts of the roots, stems, and leaves of C. serratus could alleviate inflammation in adjuvant arthritis rats, and the root extract had the best anti-inflammatory activity (Sun et al 2020b). Moreover, among the chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water separated parts of the root Figure 10.…”

“…If mortality was not observed, additional two rats were given the same dose of the extract. Then the gross morphological changes and mortality of these rats were observed for a period up to 48 h (Sun et al 2020b). The purpose of acute toxicity test was to check the rationality of medication.…”

“…According to the Chinese Medicine Dictionary (NUTCM 2006), C. serratus has many therapeutic effects, including dispelling wind, relieving pain, promoting blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis, and treating injuries from fall, rheumatic pain, and other symptoms. Moreover, the water-extractable components of C. serratus might exert an anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages (Sun et al 2019b), and the anti-arthritic activity of different parts of C. serratus in adjuvant arthritis rats is related to inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines and improving antioxidant capacity (Sun et al 2020b).…”