Articles Accepted

The present research work was carried out with the aim to evaluate anti-arthritic activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Citrus aurantium Linn. on Freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis model in rats. Dried leaves powder was extracted and coded as ECA (ethanolic extract of Citrus aurantium). Antiarthritic activity of ECA was screened at the doses of 300mg/kg and 500mg/kg p.o. Treatment with ECA markedly reduced paw volume, paw diameter, arthritic index, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and Total White Blood Cell (WBC) count, while markedly increased Red blood cell (RBC) count and Hb as compared to arthritic animals. Rheumatoid Factor was significantly reduced in ECA treated group when compared to arthritic animals. The abnormalities found in histopathological studies of joints of arthritic animals were prevented by the administration of ECA 500 mg/kg. It can be concluded that ECA possess a significant antiarthritic activity that may be due to the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, tannins.