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Potential pharmaceutic effect of Shilajit (mumie) on experimental osteoarthritis in rat

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Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a worldwide joint disease with clinically loss of motion and pain in human. The conventional treatments are associated with essential side effects. In folk medicine, Shilajit is applied for treatment of arthritis and bone fractures. The present study evaluated effect of Shilajit on the osteoarthritis in rat model. Thirty-six adult male rats were randomly divided into two groups including OA and treated with Shilajit groups. OA was induced by injection of monosodium iodoacetate in the articular space of femorotibial joint. Aqueous extract of Shilajit was given to the treatment group by gavage as daily during experimental course until 21 days. The joint samples were investigated 7, 14, and 21 days post induction. The main macroscopic changes in the affected joints were swelling and congestion at early stages. Histopathologic study showed surface irregularity, erosion and fissures, necrotic chondrocytes, depletion of toluidine blue staining, and lysis of subchondral bone in both OA and Shilajit groups after 7 and 14 days. Synovium revealed synovial cells hyperplasia and inflammatory cells infiltration. Moderate to advanced OA was seen in both groups without significant difference. After 21 days, histopathologic scores of destructive damages and synovitis were reduced in the Shilajit group and showed significant difference in compare to OA group. The present study shows that aqueous extract of Shilajit decreased cartilage degenerative changes in knee osteoarthritis. Also, it reduced inflammatory reactions in synovial membrane.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank from Mr. Saeed Hassanzadeh for providing tissue sections.

Funding

This study was funded by grant number (AZ-91-11).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Shahrzad Azizi & Reza Kheirandiah

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Omid Azari

  3. Graduated Student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Nafise Torabi

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  1. Shahrzad Azizi
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  2. Reza Kheirandiah
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  3. Omid Azari
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Correspondence to Shahrzad Azizi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All animals received human care in compliance with the Guide for Care and use of Laboratory. Animals published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH publication No. 85-23, revised 1985). The study was approved by the local ethics committee of our veterinary school.

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Azizi, S., Kheirandiah, R., Azari, O. et al. Potential pharmaceutic effect of Shilajit (mumie) on experimental osteoarthritis in rat. Comp Clin Pathol 27, 755–764 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-018-2662-0

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