Anti-arthritic activity and phytochemical composition of 'Cao Khai' (Aqueous extracts of Coptosapelta flavescens Korth.)

For a long time, ethnic minorities in Ninh Thuan province have combined ''Day Khai'' (Coptosapelta flavescens Korth) with many other medicinal herbs, creating an esoteric remedy called ''Cao Khai''-an aqueous extract from Day Khai. This study tested an aqueous extract from ''Day Khai'' for total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity in an in vivo mice model. The aqueous extracts of raw materials C. flavescens collected in different regions were found to have phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in vitro according to DPPH, ABTS, RP, TAC, and FRAP methods. This study evaluated the effect of C. flavescens on arthritis of Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced-mice by observing changes in the degree of edema in the leg joints blood index and histology. The findings indicated that the ''Cao Khai'' had anti-inflammatory benefits and lowered the inflammatory symptoms in mice equivalent to Mobic medications (p < 0.05) while also limiting cartilage tissue damage after 14 days of usage. As a result, it is clear that ''Cao Khai'' can be considered a medicinal herb with tremendous potential for usage as an addition to illness therapy that should be protected and cultivated.