Effect of Delonix elata on Adjuvant Induced Arthritis in Rats - A Radiographic Densitometric Analysis

In the present study, the anti-arthritic effect of oral administration of ethanolic extract of Delonix elata on Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis has been studied in Wistar albino rats. The loss of body weight during the arthritic condition was corrected on treatment with ethanolic extract of Delonix elata at 250 and 500 mg.kg^-1 body weights. The swelling of the paws during the secondary lesions was also markedly reduced on treatment with ethanolic extract of Delonix elata and this results was confirmed using radiographic analysis and the changes in the density of Hind Limb Bone Mass (HLBM) was measured using photodensitometer and aluminium step wedge. The HLBM was significantly reduced on treatment with ethanolic extract (250 and 500 mg·kg^-1 body weight) of Delonix elata and standard drug Indomethacin (10 mg·kg^-1). From the result we observed that the ethanolic extract of Delonix elata possess potent anti-arthritic activity.