Therapeutic Effect of Berberine Versus Methotrexate on Histopathology in a Rat Model of Pristane-Induced Arthritis

Introduction: Treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis have potentially fatal adverse effects and failure to achieve complete cure. Alternative medicines are, therefore, being researched for this purpose. Berberine is one of such compounds with high antioxidant activity that may prove beneficial in this disease. Aims & Objectives: To compare effects of berberine with methotrexate on pristane induced arthritis in rats. Place and duration of study: Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore; March to May 2014. Material & Methods: Forty female Sprague Dawley rats were allotted to five groups including a berberine control. Arthritis developed in 14 days with a single intradermal injection of pristane in arthritis control and experimental groups. Starting Day 15, berberine and methotrexate were administered as single daily intraperitoneal injection for next 14 days. Arthritis resolution was assessed by measuring body weight, clinical score of arthritis on day 0, 14 and 28 and joint histopathology terminally. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20, p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Arthritis induction reduced body weight in pristane administered groups (142.87 ± 3.56, 146.25 ± 7.49, 112.37 ± 6.23, 114.50 ±3.85, 113.62 ± 7.72 g in Group I, II, III, IV and V respectively) at day 14. Berberine and methotrexate treatment restored body weight in comparison to continuous loss in arthritis control animals on day 28 (155.87 ± 3.72, 162.00 ± 7.96, 105.25 ± 8.04, 133.75 ± 4.89, 133.12 ± 9.24 g in Group I, II, III, IV and V respectively). Berberine and methotrexate both reduced joint inflammation (clinical score 15±1.51, 6.75±1.48, 3.25±1.48 in arthritis control, berberine and methotrexate treated groups). Methotrexate was, however, more effective in reducing clinical arthritis score than berberine on day 28 (p value <0.001). Histopathological changes were reversed similarly by both drugs. Conclusion: Berberine is effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis though less than methotrexate.