Anti-arthritic activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra, Boswellia serrata and their synergistic activity in combined formulation studied in freund's adjuvant induced arthritic rats

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to assess the anti-arthritic activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Boswellia serrata. Then Glycyrrhiza glabra and Boswellia serrata extracts were combined to study the synergistic property for potent anti-arthritic activity. The methanolic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra was administered orally at a dose of 150 mg/kg and n-hexane extract of Boswellia serrata was administered 50mg/kg body weight for 21 days to the experimental animals after the induction of adjuvant arthritis. Further the combined formulation containing both Glycyrrhiza glabra and Boswellia serrata 100mg/kg was administered in separate group. Different biochemical estimations were carried out like paw edema volume, lysosomal enzyme activity such as ACP, membrane bound enzymes like SGPT, SGOT and ALP, Total WBC count, different in vitro parameters like Proteinase inhibitory action and inhibition of Protein denaturation for the evaluation of anti- arthritic property. The anti-arthritic activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Boswellia serrata were assessed by significant reduction of paw edema volume and it's capacity to stabilize lysosomal enzyme activity such as ACP significantly (P d 0.01). Furthermore the combined formulation containing both Glycyrrhiza glabra and Boswellia serrata at proportion (1:1) showed significant synergistic action. As a better synergistic activity was observed in combined formulation it may be tried for therapeutic use clinically.