Antioxidant potential ofGaultheria fragrantissimaagainst adjuvant induced arthritis in Wistar rats

Adjuvant arthritis is one of the extensively used models of chronic inflammatory joint disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis. It is postulated that oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in rheumatoid arthritis. The current research was designed to examine the antioxidative effect of Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. (Ericaceae) against complete Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis. Arthritis was induced by single subcutaneous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (0.1 mL) into the plantar surface of the right hind paw of male Wistar rats. Gaultheria fragrantissima leaf extracts (100 and 200 mg kg−1day−1) and indomethacin (3 mg kg−1day−1) were administered orally for 14 days (from day 14 to day 28) after the adjuvant injection. The protective effect was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging activity, alterations in paw volume, lipid peroxidation (measured in terms of MDA), antioxidant, enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GST), nonenzymatic (GSH), and marker enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and GGT) levels from liver and serum of adjuvant induced and treatment groups. These biochemical alterations were significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated nearly to control values after administration of Gaultheria fragrantissima leaf extract to arthritic animals.