Linseed Oil: An Investigation of its Antiarthritic Activity in Experimental Models
Linseed Oil: An Investigation of its Antiarthritic Activity in Experimental Models
Year: 2011
Authors: Singh, S. Nair, V. Gupta, Y.K.
Publication Name: Phytotherapy Research
Publication Details: DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3535
Abstract:
Food sources rich in omega‐3 fatty acids have been valued for their beneficial effect in the management of inflammatory disorders. The present study evaluates the anti-arthritic and immunomodulatory activity of Linum usitatissimum fixed oil (LUFO) in experimental models. The LUFO produced a dose‐dependent reduction in joint swelling and circulating TNF‐α levels in both preventive and curative protocols of arthritis induced by complete Freund�s adjuvant (CFA). Expression of TNF‐R1 and Interleukin (IL) 6 proteins in the arthritic paw was also significantly reduced in the LUFO‐treated animals. In the cotton pellet induced granuloma model, LUFO treatment significantly reduced the dry granuloma weight as compared with the control group. Results of our present study thus demonstrate the anti-arthritic and disease modifying activity of LUFO. We believe that dietary incorporation of LUFO may be beneficial in the prevention and management of rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory disorders. (Authors abstract)
Alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA), along with its metabolism product eicosapaentanoic acid (EPA) has been shown to possess significant anti-inflammatory activity. This inflammatory environment is conditioned by macrophage cytokines such as TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐1, GM‐CSF (granulocyte‐macrophage colony stimulating factor). Studies have demonstrated that an increase in omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in diet has an inhibitory effect on activation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by murine macrophages. The effect of LUFO administration on the development and progression of CFA‐induced was assessed. The study also examined the effect of LUFO treatment on granuloma formation and macrophage cytokine expression. In this study LUFO treatment produced a significant inhibition of joint swelling in both preventive and curative protocols, thus demonstrating its anti-arthritic activity. The delayed increase in joint swelling seen in control animals that is indicative of the cell‐mediated immune response was not observed in the LUFO‐treated groups, thus demonstrating an immunomodulatory effect. The LUFO treatment reduced the elevated serum TNF‐α levels as compared with control animals in both the protocols. The tissue expression of TNF‐R1 and IL‐6 was also found to be reduced in the LUFO‐ and indomethacin‐treated groups. The immunomodulatory activity of LUFO was further confirmed by its ability to reduce granuloma formation in the subcutaneous cotton pellet implantation model. LUFO treatment produced a dose‐dependent inhibition of granuloma formation and was superior to indomethacin. Based on the results, LUFO incorporation in diet can have a beneficial effect in the management of chronic inflammatory disorders such as RA. This benefit may be due partly to the modulation of omega‐6 availability for metabolic processes and partly to modulation of the altered immunological homeostasis in the body. (Editors comments)
