Evaluation of Anti-arthritic Activity of ArthoCan – V50 Tablets using CFA induced Rheumatoid Arthritis in Wistar rats

Current pharmacological therapy for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has long-term safety issues. The polyherbal formulation ArthoCan-V50 is comprised of Boswellia serrata, Vitex negundo, Zingiber officinale, Ricinus communis, Curcuma longa, and Cannabis sativa. These plants are individually known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties, but their combination has not been previously tested for arthritis. Hence, the study is designed to assess the anti-arthritic efficacy of ArthoCan-V50 tablets in a CFA-induced (Complete Freund’s Adjuvant) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) rat model and to confirm safety through an acute toxicity study. Wistar rats were induced with RA using a CFA. These rats were treated with varying doses of ArthoCan-V50 (50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg) per 200 gm rats. Body weight, paw volume, arthritic score, haematological and biochemical markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, CRP, RF), and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) were evaluated. Histopathological changes were assessed using ImageJ analysis. Acute oral toxicity was studied using OECD Guideline 423. ArthoCan-V50 tablets significantly reduced the inflammation, as observed by a decrease in paw thickness, arthritic scores, and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and acute-phase proteins C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (RF). Also, the tablets restored the levels of antioxidant enzymes while simultaneously improving the histological architecture of joints. The 200 mg dose showed the strongest therapeutic effect. The 2000 mg/kg dose displayed no toxicity or mortality signs, indicating an ample safety margin. Evidence suggests that ArthoCan-V50 possesses strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-arthritic activities, with acceptable safety indexes. Although the CFA-induced RA rat model may not fully reflect human autoimmune or chronic RA, the study data suggest that ArthoCan-V50 has potential as a significant adjunctive therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and can further be studied in human patients.