Ameliorative effect of morin, a plant flavonoid against Freund's complete adjuvant-induced polyarthritis in rats

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic relapsing autoimmune disorder with multifactorial etiology and prognosis. Morin [2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one], a plant flavonoid reported having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Objective: The aim is to study the anti-arthritic activity of the morin against adjuvant-induced polyarthritis in rats. Materials and Methods: Polyarthritis was induced in female Wistar rats (150–180 g) using Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) in the tail. Leflunomide (10 mg/kg, as a standard) and morin (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) were administered orally daily for 28 days. Results: Treatment with morin (30 and 100 mg/kg) showed statistically significant inhibition ( P P P P P Conclusion: Morin showed promising curative properties against FCA-induced polyarthritis in rats via modulation of endogenous biomarkers. Thus, morin can be considered as an alternative treatment regimen for the management of arthritis. Abbreviations used: AIA: Adjuvant-induced arthritis, ALT: Alanine transaminase, ALP: Alkaline phosphatase, AST: Aspartate aminotransferase, BSL: Blood glucose level, CRP: C-reactive protein, ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, FCA: Freund's complete adjuvant, HO: Heme oxygenase, HDL: High-density lipoprotein, IL-1β: Interleukin-1 beta, LDL: Low-density lipoprotein, MDA: Malondialdehyde, NO: Nitric oxide, Nrf2: Nuclear factor-like 2, ROS: Reactive oxygen species, GSH: Reduced glutathione, RT-PCR: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, SOD: Superoxide dismutase, TC: Total cholesterol, TGF-β: Transforming growth factor-beta, TG: Triglyceride, TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, VLDL: Very low-density lipoprotein.