Impact of Rauwolfia vomitoria Root Extracts on Tocopherol, Adenine Deaminase, and Antioxidant Parameters in Adjuvant-Induced Arthritic Rats

This study investigated the effects of ethanol and aqueous root extracts of Rauwolfia vomitoria Oliv. on tocopherol, adenine deaminase, and antioxidant parameters in albino rats with induced arthritis. A total of 135 albino rats were utilized, divided into nine groups of 15 rats each. Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of 0.1 ml Chicken type II collagen-Complete Freund’s adjuvant into the left hind paw. Starting on day 10 postinduction, the rats were treated with the extracts at dosages of 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg body weight over a 32-day period. Analysis was performed using spectrophotometric techniques. Arthritic rats showed significantly higher (P<0.05) levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), and significantly lower (P<0.05) levels of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione, and tocopherol compared to normal controls. Treatment with Rauwolfia vomitoria extracts reversed these changes in a time- and dose dependent manner. The anti-arthritic efficacy of the extracts was comparable to that of the standard drug indomethacin (P<0.05). The findings suggest that ethanol and aqueous root extracts of Rauwolfia vomitoria contain compounds that enhance antioxidant levels, reduce oxidative stress, and alleviate arthritic symptoms in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. This study provides scientific evidence supporting the use of Rauwolfia vomitoria root extracts as a potential treatment for arthritis. Keywords: Rauwolfia vomitoria, Tocopherol, Adenine deaminase, Antioxidant potentials, Nitric oxide and Arthritis.