The Anti-Arthritis Effect of Cinnamaldehyde on Adjuvant Arthritis Rats

Baoqi Dong, Wenqing Wu, Jingbao Chen and Xiao-qin Chu

Background and Objective: Cinnamaldehyde, the main component of volatile oil was isolated from the traditional Chinese herb medicinal Cinnamomum cassia. A variety of pharmacological and biological activities of cinnamaldehyde have been fully demonstrated, such as antiviral, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antithrombotic effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-arthritic effects of a 70% aqueous ethanol extract of the Cinnamomum cassia in a chronic inflammatory model and reveal the underlying molecular mechanism. Materials and Methods: Induction of adjuvant arthritis in rats was by injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) into the plantar of the right hind paw of Sprague-Dawley rats. Paw swelling, body weight, arthritis index, thymus index and spleen index were and evaluated. Examine the level of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and PGE₂ in sera by using ELISA. Measure the histopathological conversions in joint tissues by using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H and E). Results: Cinnamaldehydesignificantly relieved body weight loss, refrained arthritis index and paw swelling, decreased the thymus index and spleen index induced by CFA. Furthermore, cinnamaldehydesignificantly suppressed the overproduction of and serum TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6 and PGE₂ and increased serum IL-10 production in and CFA-induced rats. Histopathological examination indicated that cinnamaldehydeattenuated synovial hyperplasia, bone and cartilage damage and inflammatory cell infiltration. Conclusion: These results suggest that cinnamaldehyde has the potential protective effect against CFA-induced arthritis in rats.

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