Anti-Arthritic Effects of Moringa Oleifera and Vitamin D on Articular Cartilage; A Comparative Study

Abstract

Objective: To compare the anti-arthritic effects of Moringa Oleifera and Vitamin D on articular cartilage of formalin induced arthritic rat model.

Methodology: This experimental, comparative using an animal model study was conducted from September 2020 to September 2021 in the department of Anatomy at Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi in collaboration with the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups each containing 10 rats. All animals except group A received sub planter injection of formaldehyde on right paw on day 1 and day 3 of experiment. Group A, control and group B, negative control group were given standard rat diet. Male rats of treatment group C were given 4000IU/kg body weight of vitamin D and those of group D were given 500 mg/kg body weight of Moringa aqueous extract throughout the experiment via oral route.  At the end of experiment, the right hind limb was removed, processed, and stained by H&E and toluidine blue. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 21.

Results: The histomorphological changes were evaluated according to OARSI (Osteoarthritis research society international) grading of osteoarthritis (OA). Moringa treated group exhibited grade I&II and while Grades II, III & IV were revealed in vitamin D treated group.

Conclusion: Moringa oleifera was found to be an effective antiarthritic agent compared to vitamin D on histomorphological changes of articular cartilage in formalin induced arthritic rat model.