Toxicity and efficacy of Prosopis juliflora seed pods extract on induced osteoarthritis in Wistar rats

The present study was planned to find out the LD50, toxicity and efficacy of hydroalcoholic Prosopis juliflora seedpods extract (PJSPE) on experimentally induced osteoarthritis in Wistar rats. As per OECD test guideline 425, main test, oral gavage LD50 of PJSPE was greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight. Osteoarthritis was induced in 48 rats by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA, 1 mg/ joint). All the 48 rats were randomly divided into eight groups. Group I, II, III and IV served as a progressive phase while Group V, VI, VII and VIII served as reversal phase. Group I and V served as control and received only normal saline. Group II, III, IV of progressive phase and Group VI, VII, VIII of regressive phase received PJSPE dissolved in normal saline at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bodyweight respectively, by oral gavage daily for period of 28 days. The dosing was started from same day of induction of osteoarthritis in progressive phase while in reversal phase dosing was initiated after 28 days of osteoarthritis induction. All 48 rats of the study were survived up to terminal scarifies. Body weight, clinical pathology, organs weight, and organs of rats in the treatment groups of progressive and reversal phase did not showed any significant changes and were comparable to control of their respective phase. A 28 day oral dosing of 1000 mg/kg PJSPE did not show protective (in progressive phase) or ameliorative (in regressive phase) effect on MIA induced osteoarthritis. 1000 mg/kg was no observed adverse effect level.