Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is a complex autoimmune disease associated with high rates of mortality and extreme disability. It is characterized by gradual joint destruction and a chronic inflammatory response. As current medications are not economical and provide complications, plant-derived therapeutic practices are now being explored. Dodonaea viscosa, a flowering plant, is well-known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, wound healing, and analgesic activities but no in vivo anti-arthritic study have been conducted so far. Hence, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the toxicity and therapeutic potential of Dodonaea viscosa in a collagen-induced arthritic mouse model. Chemical analysis exhibited that Dodonaea viscosa has high levels of beneficial bioactive compounds, including phenols, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals. In ex vivo and in vivo studies, Dodonaea viscosa showed significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic potential, while no toxic effects were found. Arthritic mice treated with Dodonaea viscosa showed reduced levels of rheumatoid factor and paw edema, while no significant effects were found on spleen indices and radiological examination of paws, compared to control untreated arthritic mice. Our study showed that treatment with Dodonaea viscosa resulted in improvements in arthritis and could therefore be a viable therapeutic source for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, further studies on humans are required for validation.