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ABSTRACT
Peperomia pellucida belongs to the family, Piperaceae giseke. Over several decades, it has been used by man as food and to treat several ailments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-arthritis activity of 70% methanol extract of Peperomia pellucida using complete Freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis in animal model. To Group 1, the healthy control group, distilled water (10 ml/kg) was administered orally daily and there was no induction of arthritis. Group 2-4 received 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of 70% methanol extract of Peperomia pellucida respectively with arthritis induced. To Group 5, the standard group, methotrexate (0.7 mg/kg) was administered orally with arthritis induced. In Group 6, the arthritis control group, arthritis was induced and animals were untreated. All animals were examined for parameters including paw diameter of inflammation, organ to body weight ratio, percentage change in body weight, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haematological indices, biochemical parameters and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. The histopathology of the joint and various organs was also analyzed. The 70% methanol extract of Peperonia pellucida significantly reduced (***p<0.001) diameter of inflammation of arthritis compared to arthritis control. In animals treated with the extract, change in weight was not significant (p>0.5) compared to the healthy control group. There was no significant alteration (p>0.5) in haematological and biochemical parameters in animals treated with the extract compared to the healthy control group. The extract and standard drug reduced (**p<0.01) the erythrocyte sedimentary rate compared to arthritis control group. The extract increased (**p<0.01) superoxide dismutase enzyme activity in the arthritis animals compared to arthritis control. Animals treated with extract showed significant protection from bone damage compared to arthritis control group. In the study, extract of Peperomia pellucida possessed anti-arthritis activity and increased endogenous superoxide dismutase.
