Effect of the milk extract of Semecarpus anacardium nut on adjuvant arthritis--a dose-dependent study in Wistar albino rats.

1. Adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats is used as a pathologic model for chronic inflammatory disease to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic agents. 2. In the present work, attempts have been made to study the potency of a milk extract of Semecarpus anacardium (Serankottai Nei), a Siddha preparation from Semecarpus anacardium nut, which has been shown to have antiarthritic effects. 3. Experimental arthritis induces a significant modification in lysosomal enzyme release and total carbohydrate components of glycoprotein. 4. Milk extract was administered at the dose level of 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mg/kg body weight in olive oil orally (volume 0.5 ml) after 14 days from the day of adjuvant injection. 5. After administration of the extract the lysosomal enzyme activity and protein-bound carbohydrate component levels were significantly normalized. 6. The data obtained clearly indicate that the Semecarpus anacardium is effective at the dose level of 150 mg/kg body weight in adjuvant-induced arthritis in albino Wistar rats.