Rosmarinic acid attenuates inflammation in experimentally induced arthritis in Wistar rats, using Freund’s complete adjuvant

Aim: The purpose of our investigation is to evaluate the anti-arthritic potential of isolated rosmarinic acid from the rind of Punica granatum. Method: Rosmarinic acid was isolated by bioactivity-guided isolation from butanolic fraction of Punica granatum and acute toxicity of rosmarinic acid was carried out. The experiment was conducted at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced arthritic rats. Various parameters, that is arthritic score, paw volume, thickness of paw, hematological, antioxidant and inflammatory parameters such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were also estimated. Results: Rosmarinic acid significantly decreased the arthritic score, paw volume, joint diameter, white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It also significantly increased body weight, hemoglobin and red blood cells. The significantly decreased levels of TNF-α were observed in treated groups as compared to arthritic control rats (P < 0.001). At the same time antioxidant parameters (like GSH and SOD) were increased significantly while levels of MDA were significantly decreased (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The outcome of the present research concludes that rosmarinic acid showed significant anti-arthritic potential in FCA-induced arthritis in Wistar rats. This study represented the therapeutic role of rosmarinic acid from Punica granatum for the management of arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis and related inflammatory complications with negligible side effects which was still far from complete mitigation with available conventional medicines.