Chenopodium ambrosioides L. Reduces Synovial Inflammation and Pain in Experimental Osteoarthritis

Abstract

The chronicity of osteoarthritis (OA), characterized by pain and inflammation in the joints, is linked to a glutamate receptor, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). The use of plant species such as Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Amaranthaceae) as NMDA antagonists offers a promising perspective. This work aims to analyze the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory responses of the crude hydroalcoholic extract (HCE) of C. ambrosioides leaves in an experimental OA model. Wistar rats were separated into six groups (n = 24): clean (C), negative control (CTL-), positive control (CTL+), HCE0.5, HCE5 and HCE50. The first group received no intervention. The other groups received an intra-articular injection of sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA) (8 mg/kg) on day 0. After six hours, they were orally treated with saline, Maxicam plus (meloxicam + chondroitin sulfate) and HCE at doses of 0.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively. After three, seven and ten days, clinical evaluations were performed (knee diameter, mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia and motor activity). On the tenth day, after euthanasia, synovial fluid and draining lymph node were collected for cellular quantification, and cartilage was collected for histopathological analysis. Finally, molecular docking was performed to evaluate the compatibility of ascaridole, a monoterpene found in HCE, with the NMDA receptor. After the third day, HCE reduced knee edema. HCE5 showed less cellular infiltrate in the cartilage and synovium and lower intensities of allodynia from the third day and of hyperalgesia from the seventh day up to the last treatment day. The HCE5 and HCE50 groups improved in forced walking. In relation to molecular docking, ascaridole showed NMDA receptor binding affinity. C. ambrosioides HCE was effective in the treatment of OA because it reduced synovial inflammation and behavioral changes due to pain. This effect may be related to the antagonistic effect of ascaridole on the NMDA receptor.

Design, formulation and evaluation of Chasmanthera dependens Hochst and Chenopodium ambrosioides Linn based gel for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities

“…These plants are used locally to treat variety of ailments including pain and inflammation. Earlier reports confirmed their anti-inflammatory activities individually ( Onabanjo et al., 1991 ; TrivellatoGrassi et al., 2013 ; Calado et al., 2015 ). These reports supported the safety and efficacy claims of Nigerian traditional bone setters who use C. dependens and C. ambrosioides in pain management and fracture healing.…”

A phytochemical of modern medicinal perspective

“…In another study, the hydro-alcoholic extract of C. ambrosioides was tested for osteoarthritis and it was found to be effective due to behavioral changes and reduced synovial inflammation in the pain. Furthermore, this study also revealed that this was because of the antagonistic action of ascaridole on the NMDA receptor [13]. Supercritical fluid extraction and hydrodistillation method were used for the separation of volatile oil from Ledum palustre (L. palustre) aerial parts.…”

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity of Pollen Extract Collected by Scaptotrigona affinis postica: in silico, in vitro, and in vivo Studies

“…COX-2 structure was obtained on Protein Data Bank (PDB ID 1DDX) with original ligands and artifacts removed and compound from TBHPE prepared with AutoDock Tools (Scripps Research, San Diego, California, USA) version 1.5.6 [29]. Docking protocol described in literature was used [30] with adjustment [7,21,31]. We used the oxygen atom from residue Arg120, catalytic site residue from COX-2, to position the grid box and Lamarckian genetic algorithm (LGA), with 100 runs for each compound.…”