Trigonella foenum graecum mitigates proteases and restores antioxidant balance in collagen induced arthritis in rats

Autoimmunity driven immune cell infiltration and associated proteolytic enzyme stimulation with concomitant oxidative stress is responsible for the tissue degradation in human rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study, we investigated the antiinflammatory and antioxidant potential of hydro alcoholic extract of Trigonella foenumgraecum in collagen induced arthritis in Wistar rats. Rats were treated with Trigonella foenumgraecum at a dose of 120 mg kg^-1 b.wt orally for 21 days and effects were assessed by biochemical (elastase, LPO, GSH, SOD, catalase and NO) and histological evaluation in joints.The disease was evident after 13 ± 1 days post induction with increase in paw volume, digital inflammation which progressed to swelling of multiple joints. A single injection of CIA led significant elevation of neutrophil elastase (p<0.01). Peroxidation of lipids increased with parallel decrease in reduced glutathione content (p<0.001). Enzymatic antioxidants viz. superoxide dismutase and catalase showed a similar decrease in the CIA immunized rats. Moreover, nitrite content was seen to be significantly increased (p<0.001) in the arthritic rats. Trigonella foenumgraecum extract was able to decrease neutrophil elastase (p<0.001) and decrease free radical overload both of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals to a significant extent. All these biochemical changes were reflected in the histology which revealed the decrease in infiltration of inflammatory cells after treatment with Trigonella foenumgraecum against collagen induced arthritis. Our investigation supports the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Trigonella foenumgraecum in collagen induced arthritis model and at the same time highlight neutrophil elastase and oxidative stress to be the targets of therapeutic intervention.