Therapeutic modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis through Choerospondias axillaris intervention: evidence from in-vitro and in-vivo studies.

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder, and current therapeutic approaches often present adverse effects on human health. This highlights the need to explore dietary sources of bioactive compounds for RA management. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a Choerospondias axillaris (C. axillaris) chewable nutraceutical tablet (LT), formulated from the underutilized fruit of C. axillaris, for RA management.

METHODS

LTs were prepared by direct compression using C. axillaris fruit powder as the principal ingredient. The tablets were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH free-radical scavenging assay. Potential RA-associated targets of C. axillaris were predicted using PharmMapper, followed by Cytoscape-based network analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Selected targets were evaluated in synovial fibroblasts using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model. Molecular docking was performed to assess interactions between major bioactive compounds and selected RA-related proteins.

RESULTS

The formulated tablets contained detectable mineral elements and phytochemical constituents. Network pharmacology identified 20 potential targets associated with C. axillaris activity against RA. Molecular docking revealed potential interactions between selected bioactive compounds and key RA-related proteins. In vitro treatment reduced MAPK14, MMP9, and IL2 expression in synovial fibroblasts. In vivo treatment also suppressed inflammatory responses in the plasma of CIA rats.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that C. axillaris bioactive compounds may modulate molecular targets associated with RA-related inflammation. The findings support further investigation of C. axillaris-derived nutraceutical formulations for RA management.