Abstract

The results of the present work revealed highly significant elevated levels of lipid peroxidation products (MDA) concomitant to decreased activity of some antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), as well as reduced glutathione content (GSH) in bone and muscle of arthritic female rats. In addition, there were significant elevations in serum, bone and muscle total lipids; bone and muscle phospholipids and serum total cholesterol and triglycerides, in contrary, there was a significant decline in serum HDL-C in arthritic rat group. In the arthritic rats that received green tea extract (28.57 mg/kg b.wt orally) and/ or injected i.p. with α–lipoic acid (25mg/kg b.wt) daily for 14 days the experimental animals showed an enhancement of the mentioned changes. There was marked improvement in the antioxidant system and lipid profiles in addition to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation high levels which means that each of green tea extract and α–lipoic acid when administered either individually or in combination has a powerful natural antioxidant ability to overcome oxidative stress and disturbances accompanied rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, α–lipoic acid protective effect was more pronounced and the concomitant use of green tea and α–lipoic acid was the most effective and can be recommended, besides the conventional treatment for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Key words: Rheumatoid arthritis- Oxidative stress - Antioxidant -Green tea - alpha-lipoic acid