Cymbopogon citratus mitigates neurobehavioral impairments via inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory changes in mice submitted to complete Freund adjuvant

Cymbopogon citratus aqueous leaf extract (CYC) otherwise known as lemongrass tea is used for achy joints (rheumatism) and central nervous system disorders in ethnomedicine. This study was designed to investigate the effects of CYC on neurobehavioral, oxidative, and inflammatory changes produced by complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) in male Swiss mice. The mice were allotted into 6 groups (n = 6). The animals in group 1 received saline (control), group 2 also had saline (CFA-control), groups 3–5 received CYC (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg), whereas group 6 were given celecoxib (20 mg/kg) orally for 14 consecutive days. Mice in groups 2–6 also received 0.1 mL injection of CFA (10 mg/mL) into the left hind paw 30 min earlier on day 1. The paw volumes were measured on days 0, 7, and 14. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated on day 14. Thereafter, the left hind paw tissues were processed for estimation of malondialdehyde, nitrite, glutathione, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 contents. The increase in paw volume and weight produced by CFA was reduced by CYC (p < 0.05). CYC attenuated postural instability, anxiety, depression, memory deficits, and nociceptive responses in CFA-mice. The CFA-induced increases in malondialdehyde and pro-inflammatory cytokines accompanied by decreased glutathione contents in mouse hind paw were attenuated by CYC (p < 0.05). The findings that CYC reduces inflammatory edema, neurological deficits, nociception, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and release of inflammatory cytokines in CFA-treated mice further supports its acclaimed benefit in arthritic pain in ethnomedicine.