Evaluation of Anti-arthritic Potential of Genistein in CFA Induced Rat Model

Research Article

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating chronic autoimmune pathology characterized by persistent synovitis, systemic inflammation, and progressive articular destruction. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as celecoxib remain the cornerstone of symptomatic management, their long-term administration is frequently associated with adverse cardiovascular and gastrointestinal events, necessitating the exploration of safer phytochemical alternatives. The present research work evaluates the anti-arthritic efficacy of genistein, a soy-derived isoflavone with known immunomodulatory properties, in comparison to celecoxib within a Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced rat model. Thirty Wistar rats were stratified into five experimental cohorts: normal control, CFA control, standard treatment (celecoxib 50 mg/kg), and two test groups administered genistein at 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively. Arthritis was induced via sub-plantar injection of CFA, and therapeutic interventions were administered orally for 28 days. Assessment of hind paw edema was conducted at weekly intervals to quantify the anti-inflammatory response. Results indicated that CFA induction precipitated significant paw swelling and inflammation. However, administration of genistein elicited a marked, dose-dependent reduction in paw volume. Notably, the 20 mg/kg genistein dosage showed an anti-inflammatory profile statistically comparable to that of celecoxib, effectively mitigating the acute and chronic phases of CFA-induced inflammation. These results indicate that genistein possesses potent anti-arthritic activity, likely mediated through the modulation of inflammatory cascades, and requires further pharmacological evaluation as a viable therapeutic adjunct or alternative to synthetic COX-2 inhibitors in the management of rheumatoid arthritis