Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the Egyptian Scorpion (Androctonus amoreuxi) Venom in Rheumatoid Rat Model

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Egypt

2 Clinical Pathology Department, Manzala General Hospital, Dakahlya, Egypt

3 Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt.

Abstract

   Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder, which takes place in the synovial tissues. This study aims to assess the possibility of using the Egyptian scorpion Androctonus amoreuxi venom (SV) on the treatment and management of RA. The venom was collected from scorpions using electrical stimulation then processed to get crude which was subcutaneously injected to arthritis induced rats. RA was induced in the rats by a single injection of 0.1 ml of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) at the footpad of the right hind paw of 32 adult male albino rats. Animals were divided into five groups, normal control, RA none treated, SV treated with low and high doses, and methotoxate treated. Results exhibited that SV (0.24 and 0.48 mg/kg) treatment relived pain, improved movement and reduced paw edema and joint swelling volume in arthritic rats. SV had diminished tissue damage in which malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK) were significantly decreased compared to arthritic rats without side effects in liver, blood, and kidney parameters. Histological examination showed marked improvement in the joint structure after SV treatment. Immunohistochemical staining showed a significant decrease in the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B Cell 65(NFкB-p65), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the arthritic joint after treatment with SV. In conclusion, SV possesses therapeutic properties in RA treatment and management due to its analgesic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects without noticeable side effects.

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