Protective Effect of a Natural Coumarin (Aesculetin) on Adjuvant-induced Rats by Regulation of RA Factor and CRP Level

Protective Effect of a Natural Coumarin (Aesculetin) on Adjuvant-induced Rats by Regulation of RA Factor and CRP Level S. Jayakumari https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6100-2753 M. Mahesh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6966-0766 Md. Alimoddin https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9481-1727 V. Sreenath https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0255-7839

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that can be associated with joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and progressive cartilage destruction. Coumarin derivatives are rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may be useful in the management of RA. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the character of antioxidant and anti-arthritic activity of aesculetin in Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritic rats. Methods: Aesculetin was identified using chemical tests, melting point analysis, Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), and UV spectroscopy. Antioxidant activity was assessed by Nitric Oxide (NO) and DPPH free radical scavenging assays. Arthritis was induced in Swiss albino rats using CFA. Animals were treated orally with aesculetin (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) and indomethacin (5 mg/kg) for 18 days. Anti-arthritic activity was evaluated through paw measurement, histopathological examination, and haematological biomarkers, including Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP). Results: Aesculetin exhibited significant dose-dependent antioxidant and anti-arthritic activity. The compound showed approximately 50% inhibition of nitric oxide radicals at concentrations below 100 µg/ml and demonstrated concentration-dependent DPPH scavenging activity. Treatment with aesculetin significantly reduced paw, RF levels, and CRP levels compared with the arthritic control group. Histopathological studies showed reduced inflammatory changes and bone deformity in treated animals. Conclusion: The study confirms that aesculetin possesses significant antioxidant and anti-arthritic activity, which may be attributed to its polyphenolic coumarin structure and free radical scavenging ability. Aesculetin may serve as a promising lead compound for the management of rheumatoid arthritis, although further clinical studies are required. Major Findings: Major findings include significant antioxidant activity in NO and DPPH assays, dose-dependent reduction in paw and inflammatory biomarkers, and histopathological improvement in arthritic rats, supporting the therapeutic potential of aesculetin in rheumatoid arthritis management.
06 30 2026 1687 1693 1 10.18311/datasets.02007 informaticsjournals.co.in true 2025-11-10 2026-05-19 2026-06-30 Informatics Publishing Limited and Society for Biocontrol Advancement https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 10.18311/jnr/2026/53065 https://informaticsjournals.co.in/index.php/jnr/article/view/53065 https://informaticsjournals.co.in/index.php/jnr/article/download/53065/37383 https://informaticsjournals.co.in/index.php/jnr/article/download/53065/37383 10.1093/rheumatology/keq266 10.1371/journal.pone.0133858 10.1002/art.1780400402 Hydroxycoumarins - Umbelliferone. ePharmacognosy. https://www.epharmacognosy.com/2012/06/hydroxycoumarinsumbelliferone.html 10.1177/1934578X20953954 10.1080/14756360601073914 10.1042/bst0311308 Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC. Free radicals in biology and medicine. Oxford: Clarendon Press; 1999. 10.1007/978-3-0348-9116-5 10.4103/0974-8490.65509 Roghini R, Vijayalakshmi K. Phytochemical screening and quantitative analysis of flavonoids. Int J Pharm Sci Res. 2018; 9:4859-4864. Saptarini NM, Herawati IE, Permatasari UY. Total flavonoid content in acidified extracts of Gardenia jasminoides. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2016; 9:213-215. 10.5958/0974-360X.2015.00230.9 Nair J, et al. Simultaneous determination of polyphenolic compounds. Pharmacogn Res. 2017; 9(Suppl 1). 10.1124/jpet.103.050781 10.1002/art.1780340804 Former RW, et al. Clinical chemistry evaluation of rheumatoid factor. Clin Chim Acta. 1987; 162:1-21. 10.1016/0002-9343(91)90190-9 Hanson LO, et al. C-reactive protein and its role in infection and inflammation. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 1997; 10:201-206. Vaishnavi C. Immunological markers in infectious and inflammatory diseases. Immunol Infect Dis. 1996; 6:139-144. 10.17305/bjbms.2003.3523 Mir FA, Mir OI. Coumarin molecule as UV dosimeter. Int J Photonics Opt Technol. 2018; 4:30-33. 10.1128/AAC.01702-12 10.1016/j.cbi.2011.11.004 10.1002/jcla.1860010104 Pulki K, et al. Turbidimetric and immunological assays in clinical chemistry. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1986; 46:606-607. 10.1016/0022-1759(85)90226-1 10.1093/clinchem/28.10.2121 10.31069/japsr.v1i4.4