Polyphenol rich extract from Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. bark reduces rheumatism by mediating the expression of NF kappa B in rats

Sesbania grandiflora (L) Pers. (Fabaceae) commonly called Agati or Vegetable Hummingbird, is autochthonal from Malaysia to North Australia; plant is cultivated in several parts of India. Root and bark paste is applied externally to relive pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. It has long been used as a traditional medicine for rheumatism. Keeping this in cognizance, the study was designed to explore the antirheumatic potential of S. grandiflora. The bark extracts were prepared and studied for their phytochemical study, in vitro antioxidant potential using 2, 2-diphatyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals and antiarthritic activity against Complete Freund Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis. To probe into the causal mechanism of action, NFKB suppressing activity in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of hypothalamus using potent extract was also studied. Polyphenol rich extract supplementation significantly normalizes the altered blood parameters and reverses the increase in paw thickness, a sign of arthritis in rats. Further, immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant reduction in the NF kappa B immunoreactive cells in 50% methanolic extract treated (14 days) arthritic rats (57%; p<0.001) as compared to control. These results consolidate the observation, that inhibition of NF kappa B may be a beneficial approach in the treatment of arthritis. This study corroborates the traditional use of S. grandiflora plant in rheumatism.