Journal of Medicinal Plant Research Vol. 1 (4), 086- 094, November 2007          
ISSN 1996-0875 © 2007 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of red and white seed extracts of Abrus precatorius Linn. against freund’s complete adjuvant induced arthritis in rats.

M. Sudaroli and T. K. Chatterjee*

Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkatta 700 032, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: tkchatterjee81@yahoo.co.in  Tel. +919330843263. Fax No: +9103324079782.

Accepted 20, September 2007

Abrus precatorius (Fam: Leguminosae) is a folklore medicinal plant traditionally indicated to treat cancer, ulcer and fever. The purpose of the present study was aimed to evaluate the comparative therapeutic potential of both A. precatorius white (APW) and A. precatorius Red (APR) seed extracts on Freund’s complete adjuvant induced arthritis in rats. The investigated result showed that the APW (250 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.001) inhibited the FCA induced arthritis and increased paw withdrawal latency indicating a protective effect against arthritis induced nociceptive behavior during rheumatoid arthritis in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover APR (250 mg/kg) also tends to suppress the inflammation at p<0.05 level significance but at the later phase. Therefore APW treatment found to possess potent anti-arthritic activity with least toxicity (no ulcerogenic) and the treatment significantly inhibited the development phase of arthritis, which is further supported by its radiographic analysis and its anti-inflammatory effect was comparable to that of indomethacin (10 mg/kg). Both the extracts exhibited significant (p<0.001) anti pyretic activity in brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia.

Key words: Abrus precatorius (Leguminosae), Freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis, antinociceptive, antipyretic effects.