Cassia auriculata L. (Caesalpiniaceae) is a herb, used as a traditional Indian medicine for inflammation and rheumatism and it is reported to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. In view of its potent anti-inflammatory activity, the present study was designed to evaluate its anti-arthritic activity and to identify the phytoconstituents responsible for the proposed activity.

Anti-arthritic activity of ethyl acetate fraction of Cassia auriculata leaves (EACA) was evaluated using Freund's complete adjuvants (FCA) induced arthritic models in wistar rats. Arthritic assessment was carried out on basis of parameters including paw oedema, motor incordination and nociceptive threshold. At the end of study period, animals were sacrificed and various biochemical, oxidative stress, haematological, radiological and histological parameters were evaluated. The ethyl acetate fraction of Cassia auriculata leaves (EACA) was subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical investigation along with HPTLC analysis using standard biomarker quercetin and gallic acid.

Administration of EACA significantly attenuated the behavioural, biochemical, haematological, radiological alteration induced by the FCA in dose dependent manner. Tibiotarsal joint was extracted for histopathology. The overall results indicate that EACA exerts potent protective effect against FCA induced arthritic rats which is due to its major phytoconstituents quercetin and gallic acid.

From our study we can come to a conclusion that the quercetin and gallic acid present in EACA possess promising ant-arthritic activity by modulating bone erosion which may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity.