Exploration of acute and chronic anti-inflammatory potential of Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus extracts in Wistar rats: A mechanistic insight

Introduction: This research was conducted to validate the folkloric use of Quercus leucotrichophora (QL) leaf extracts against inflammation and arthritis and to determine the chemical composition using HPLC. Method: The aqueous and methanolic extracts of QL were evaluated by in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory (inhibition of protein denaturation and membrane stabilization) assays, and in vivo anti-inflammatory (carrageenan and xylene-induced edema) and anti-arthriticmodels. For anti-arthritic potential, 0.1 mL Complete Freund ' s Adjuvant (CFA) was inoculated into the left hind paw of a Wistar rat on day 1, and oral dosing with QL methanolic extract (QLME) at 150, 300, and 600mg/kg was begun at day 8 till the 28th day in all groups, except disease control that was given distilled water, while methotrexate was given as standard treatment. Results and discussion: There was a noteworthy (p < 0.05-0.0001) restoration in body weight, paw edema, arthritic index, altered blood parameters, and oxidative stress biomarkers in treated rats as compared to the diseased group. Moreover, QLME treatment significantly (p < 0.0001) downregulated TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1 ss, COX-2, and NF-kappa B, while significantly (p < 0.0001) upregulating IL-10, I-.B, and IL-4 in contrast to the diseased group. The QLME exhibited no mortality in the acute toxicity study. It was concluded that QLME possessed substantial anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiarthritic potential at all dosage levels prominently at 600 mg/kg might be due to the presence of quercetin, gallic, sinapic, and ferulic acids.

Automated summary

This research validated the folkloric use of Quercus leucotrichophora (QL) leaf extracts against inflammation and arthritis, and determined the chemical composition using HPLC. The study found that QL leaf extracts exhibited significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic potential, possibly due to the presence of quercetin, gallic acid, sinapic acid, and ferulic acid.