# Evaluation of the Effect of Commiphora wightii and Asthiposhak in Experimental Rat Model of Osteoarthritis

## TL;DR

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Commiphora wightii and Asthiposhak in treating osteoarthritis in rats using behavioral, histopathological, and biomarker assessments.

## Contribution

The study is the first to investigate the chondroprotective effects of Commiphora wightii and Asthiposhak in an experimental rat model of osteoarthritis.

## Key findings

- Both doses of Commiphora wightii and high-dose Asthiposhak improved behavioral tests compared to the disease control.
- Commiphora wightii reduced histopathological scores and decreased MMP-13 and COMP levels in serum.
- The antiarthritic effects were supported by improvements in pain and cartilage protection biomarkers.

## Abstract

Background: In Western medicine, a lot of research is ongoing to find molecules for osteoarthritis (OA). Ayurvedic physicians have tried Commiphora wightii (CW) and Asthiposhak Tablets (ASTP) in the management of OA, which has not been investigated in animal models of OA. Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of C. wightii and Asthiposhak in the improvement of behavioural tests, histopathological scores, Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP)/MMP-13 biomarkers by ELISA in animal models of OA.

Methodology: After (Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC)/GSMC/02/2023) animal ethics approval, seven groups (n=6, each group): Normal Control, Disease Control, Positive Control, C. wightii low dose (CW-LD), C. wightii high dose (CW-HD), Asthiposhak low dose (ASTP-LD), Asthiposhak high dose (ASTP-HD) groups were used to study the chondroprotective effect in monosodium-iodoacetic acid-induced osteoarthritis in rats. Behavioural assessments (Rotarod, Hot Plate, Grip Strength, and Open Field Tests) were done weekly. On day 28, COMP and Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) in serum were estimated by ELISA. On day 29, samples were collected for knee joint histopathology. Data was analysed using appropriate statistical tests.

Results: In the behavioural test, rotarod and hot plate analgesiometer, it was found that CW, both doses, and ASTP-HD have shown good improvement in comparison to disease control. While in the grip strength and open field test, CW, both doses have shown significant improvement. In histopathology, CW-LD and CW-HD group scores were significantly reduced. MMP-13 and COMP levels were significantly decreased in both the C. wightii group as compared to the disease control.

Conclusion: CW both doses and ASTP high dose exhibited antiarthritic effect by virtue of its effects on behavioural tests, histology scores, and chondroprotective biomarkers.