Effects of Nauclea latifolia and Uvaria afzelii stem bark extracts on nitric oxide and biomolecules in platelets of complete Freund adjuvant-induced arthritic female rats

This study investigated the effect of African peach (AP) and Uvaria afzelii (UA) extracts on arginase, nitric oxide (NO), angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE), and cholinergic and purinergic enzymes in platelets of complete Freund adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritic rat model to explain a possible anti-arthritic mechanism of extracts. Sixty adult Wistar female rats (140–280 g) were divided into twelve groups (n = 5). Group I received oral administration of 0.9% NaCl; group II received 10 mg/kg of indomethacin; group III and IV rats received oral administration of 150 and 300 mg/kg of AP extract, respectively; and group V and VI rats received oral administration of 150 and 300 mg/kg of UA extract, respectively. While group VII rats were injected with 0.2 ml CFA (arthritic control rat group), in group VIII, IX, and X, arthritic rats received 10 mg/kg indomethacin, 150 and 300 mg/kg of AP extract orally, respectively, while group XI and XII arthritic rats received 150 and 300 mg/kg of UA extract, respectively. The animals were treated for 21 days. The results revealed decreased NO level, activities of arginase and ACE, and adenosine triphosphate and adenosine monophosphate hydrolyses were significantly decreased while adenosine deaminase activity was significantly decreased in arthritic rat groups administered with different doses of AP and UA extracts. Therefore, AP and UA could be a natural complement and alternative promising anti-arthritic agent.