Lowly dhaniya fights arthritis better than drugs: AIIMS study

Dr Surender Singh,professor of pharmacology at AIIMS and one of the authors of the study funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),said: “Arthritis is basically an inflammation of the joints. This swelling is triggered by the release of some mediator substances known as proinflammatory cytokines. We have found that extracts of dhaniya seeds prevent the release of these mediators in the body.” The study was approved by the institute’s ethics committee on animal research.

Authors have suggested that in comparison to steroids which operate as anti-inflammatory agents,the herb’s action against the mediator substances could make it a “disease modifier”.

“Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),though effective in reducing articular and periarticular inflammation,are less effective in attenuating disease progression,” the authors have noted. Dhaniya was also found to have steroid-like characteristics as it helped in reducing inflammation far better than standard drugs.

The dhaniya seeds were ground and the powdered extract was administered to the rats in the experiment group. After dividing the rats into five groups,their ankle joint diameter was measured before the study. The control groups received standard arthritis medications (steroids),and the experimental group was given the seed extract.

Arthritis was induced by injecting formaldehyde solution into the left hind paw of all animals. In the following 28 days,the swelling of the ankle joint was constantly monitored.

The group which was given the dhaniya seed extract showed far better decline in inflammation,and produced quicker results. While the reduction in the experimental group was 32 mg per kg of body weight of the rat,the control groups only showed reductions from the ninth and tenth days,at a rate of 16 mg per kg of body weight.

The level of the mediators which produce cytokines showed significant decline on administration of dhaniya while the groups which got standard drugs had no variations at these levels.

Dr Singh said: “The plant extract could be explored to be developed as a disease modifying agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.” He said toxicity reports indicated no side effects of dhaniya.