Research in Medicine

Background: Joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are one of debilitating problems of contemporary societies and also the medicine. Present drugs have many side effects that limit their use. Today, we are experiencing a high tendency of medicine to use the pharmaceutical  herbs. According to reports, Ferula assafoetida, member of Apiaceae family, has been used as an inflammation treatment for a long time and some of its anti-inflammatory compounds have been identified. In this study, the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of  asafoetida resin was assessed on experimental rheumatoid arthritis in the rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 48 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 8 groups: control group, positive control, negative control, and five groups treated with the hydroalcoholic extract of asafoetida resin (50, 75, 100, 300 and 500 mg / kg) . the resin of asafoetida was extracted by Soxhlet. On the first day inflammation was induced with injection of 0.2 cc of complete Freund's adjuvant into the right knee joint of rats. Hydroalcoholic extract was injected intraperitoneally and daily. On the last day (thirtieth), after anesthesia, blood samples were taken directly from their hearts for measuring RF. The right knee joint were collected to histopathology evaluate and after tissue processing and molding, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and toluidine blue was used.

Results: According to the results doses of 50, 75, 100 and 300 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract significantly reduced (0.001> p) RF. In histopathological examination of the negative control and positive control were observed many osteoclasts, the destruction of cartilage and bone and synovial hyperplasia compared with groups treated with the extract gum. Cartilage and bone lesions in treatment groups with doses of 50, 75 and 100, declined.

Conclusion:The results showed that hydroalcoholic extract of asafetida resin decreases and heals inflammatory signs and cartilage damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis induced in rats. Probably its caused by monoterpen and flavonoid  ingredients effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenic and inhibitory activity against metalloproteases.