Gouty arthritis is characterized by intense, acute inflammatory reactions that occur in response to articular deposits of monosodium urate crystals. In this study we have assessed the effects of the flavonoid, quercetin, on monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammation in rats, an experimental model for gouty arthritis.
Gouty arthritis was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium urate crystal suspension inside the ankle joint of the rat right hind limb. Circumference was assessed at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h after monosodium urate crystal injection. Histopathological analysis of joint synovial tissue, inflammatory mediator levels, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant status in serum, liver and joint synovial tissue were determined in control and monosodium urate crystal-treated rats at the end of experiment.
Quercetin treatment attenuated oedema in a dose-dependent manner and decreased histological signs of acute inflammation in the treated animals. In addition, quercetin treatment suppressed leucocyte recruitment, decreased chemokine levels, decreased levels of the lipid peroxidation end-product malondialdehyde, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity in treated rats.
These results indicated that quercetin exerted a strong anti-inflammatory effect that may be useful for the treatment of acute gouty arthritis.