Sumac Extract Mitigates Rheumatoid Arthritis in Rats via Redox Modulation, Hematological Rebalancing, and T-cell Transcriptional Control

Objective:Brown sumac extract may reduce rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study tested freeze-dried sumac extract in a RA model.Materials and methods: Sumac extract's effects were evaluated in healthy and RA induced Wistar rats. Healthy rats received ۰, ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰, or ۴۰۰ mg/kg of the extract orally for one month. RA was induced by injecting Freund's adjuvant, followed by the same extract doses from day ۷ to ۲۵ post-induction, after the arthritis index exceeded one. Results:The extract contained ۱۷۹.۴۵ ± ۳.۱۲ mg/g total phenolics (gallic acid equivalents) and a FRAP antioxidant activity of ۱۰۱.۹ ± ۰.۹۸ mmol Trolox equivalents/۱۰۰ g. HPLC results determined the gallic acid content of the extract to be ۵۸.۳۸ mg/ml.In healthy rats, the extract increased serum TAC dose-dependently, without affecting RBC, WBC, Hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) levels . In RA rats, disease progression was reduced with treatment, especially at ۲۰۰ and ۴۰۰ mg/kg, with the latter showing the lowest arthritis index. Extract at ۲۰۰/۴۰۰ mg/kg improved anemia, normalizing WBC and elevating RBC, Hb, and Hct. TAC levels were restored dose-dependently. The serum levels of C-reactive protein, nitric oxide, and myeloperoxidase decreased with increasing extract dosage, particularly at ۲۰۰/۴۰۰ mg/kg. Sumac extract led to a reduction in the mRNA ratios of RORγt/T-bet, RORγt/GATA-۳, RORγt/FoxP۳, T-bet/GATA-۳, and T-bet/FoxP۳, while concurrently increasing the ratio of GATA-۳/FoxP۳ in the joints of RA rats.Conclusion: Sumac extract may mitigate inflammatory effects and aid in managing RA.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sumac extract ، Rheumatoid arthritis ، Complete Freund's adjuvant ، Immunomodulation ، anti-inflammatory ، T-cell transcription factors