<scp>EXPRESSION OF CONCERN</scp>: <i>Diospyros kaki</i> fruit extract produces antiarthritic and antinociceptive effects in rats with complete Freund's adjuvant‐induced arthritis

Current treatments for rheumatoid arthritis produce untoward effects; thus, considerable effort has been made to recognize effective herbal medicines against the condition. In the present study, the therapeutic effect of <i>Diospyros kaki</i> fruit hydroalcoholic extract (DFHE) on complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats was investigated. The extract was characterized using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESIMS). Male Wistar rats were grouped as follows (eight rats in each): control, CFA, CFA + indomethacin (5 mg/kg), CFA + DFHE (50 mg/kg), and CFA + DFHE (100 mg/kg). Paw volume, mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and arthritis score were evaluated. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), thiol groups, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were evaluated. Carotenoids were found to be the major components of DFHE. Administration of DFHE (100 mg/kg) significantly decreased arthritis score, paw volume, and thermal hyperalgesia, and improved mechanical allodynia. MDA and TNF-α levels were decreased while thiol levels and SOD and GPx activities were increased in DFHE-treated groups compared to the CFA group. These results suggest that <i>D. kaki</i> extract caused an improvement in clinical signs of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms possibly through suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation.