Effect of sulphasalazine and meloxicam on adjuvant - induced arthritis, clues to their action

ABSTRACT

This work was conducted to determine the possible in vivo effect of sulfasalazine and meloxicam on free oxygen radicals in adjuvant- induced arthritis in rats. Twenty-four male albino rats were used and divided into four equal groups. The first group consisted of non- arthritic rats [normal control] received normal saline orally for 21 days. The second group received intragastric saline for the same duration [arthritic control]. Third group consisted of arthritic rats treated with meloxicam in a dose of 0.12 mg/kg/d. The fourth group received sulfasalazine in a dose of 270 mg/kg/d orally for 21 days. The results suggested that sulfasalazine was as effective as meloxicam in the treatment of collagen II adjuvant-induced arthritis as both drugs exerted a free oxygen radical scavenging activity