Anti-Arthritic Activity On Indigenous Siddha Herbo-Mineral Formulation "Pooneeru Diravagam" In Experimental Animal Models

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto immune disorder associated with chronic inflammatory, destructive, and deforming symmetrical Polyarthritis associated with symmetrical involvement of joints. Aim: The present study evaluates anti-arthritic efficacy of herbo-mineral formulation pooneeru diravagam (PD) in animal models. Materials and Methods: The anti-arthritic activity of Pooneeru diravagam (in doses of 0.2 ml/kg and 0.4 ml/kg of body wt.) Was evaluated using the Freund's complete adjuvant in to the sub plantar region of the left hind paw. Prednisolone (10mg/kg, p.o) were used as standard drug and administered as CMC suspension by oral route. This study includes examination of the paws thickness measurement, paw volume, paw withdrawal latency and Histopathological analysis. Negative control animal receives saline 1ml on day of immunization with adjuvant. The drug treatments were administered from the day of adjuvant injection (0 day), 30 minutes before adjuvant injection and continued till 14th day. Disease severity was evaluated by the measurement of hind paw volumes on day 0, 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14th day. The joint diameters of left hind paw were measured using a Vernier caliper on the above mentioned testing days after induction of arthritis. Results: The marked reduction of the arthritis score by Pooneeru Diravagam as observed in our study indicates a possible immuno modulatory effect. Significant (p<0.05) decrease in mean paw edema level of treated group compare to control. Significantly inhibit the progression of the arthritis in animal models. Conclusion: The present study reveals that the Pooneeru diravagam (PD) is a promising drug in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis.