POTENTIAL HEALING EFFECTS OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA L. FLOWERS ON ARTHRITIS

Objective: The present study has been focused to assess the anti-inflammatory activity and healing effects of the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Flowers on induced arthritis in mice and compare it with meloxicam (Mobic®), one of the most conventional drugs used to treat arthritis.Methods: The water extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa was administered orally at a dose of 300 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight for 14 days after induction of arthritis with incomplete fruend's adjuvant.Results: (T1, T2 and T3) showed a significant increase in body weight when compared with T4, negative and positive control groups. A significant decrease in the levels of RBC and Hb was observed in all groups subjected to arthritic (T1,T2,T3,T4 and T5) when compared to the negative group (T6). The administration of the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. flowers to arthritic mice in (T1, T2 and T3) improved the levels of Hb and RBC to near normal. A significant reduction (P≤0.01) in spleen weight,WBC, ESR, CPR and serum copper level was found at all treatment groups with the water extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa in comparison with the groups treated with meloxicam, the positive and the negative.(T1, T2 and T3) reveled a significant (P≤0.01) reduction of the inflammation in comparison with the other treatment groups (T4, T5). A better activity was observed at 500mg/kg body weight in mice.Conclusion: The water extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. flowers reveled a significant anti-inflammatory activity in albino mice at a dose of 300, 400 and 500 mg/kg body weight. Whereas 500 mg/kg in mice proved to possess better healing effectsÂ