Background: Joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are among common and debilitating disease of the time. Current treatments are limited due to lack of efficacy and high incidence of side effects. Therefore, there is an increasing need for alternative drug treatment strategies specially in the area of medicinal plants. Curcuma amada Roxb. which belongs to the family of zingiberaceae, has been traditionally used for inflammation and arthritic pain in China and India. Very little data is available about efficacy of this plant in controlled studies. Objective: In this study, effect of total extract of Curcuma amada (C.A.) were assessed on inflammation. Methods: Male rats were injected (s.c) with complete freund's adjuvant (50 mg/10 cc heat killed and dried mycobacterium tuberculosis, suspended in mineral oil (Arlacel A and light paraffin). Injections were made in the right ankle foot of tibio tarsal joint region. On day 15 following adjuvant administration, animals were treated (i.p) with a 100 mg/kg dose of the extract daily for 15 days. Joint diameter, arthritic Index, body weight, WBC count and ESR were recorded. Results: The data indicated that the extract could significantly (p<0.05) reduce ESR, WBC, joint diameter and arthritic Index of treated animals compared with control animals. Further studies are underway to determine antiarthritic potentials and safety of the extract.

Background: Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is widely used in traditional medicine. In Iranian folk medicine, turmeric and egg yolk mixture is used for inflammation due to dislocations and strains. Since lecithin (one of the component of egg yolk) is an absorption enhancer, it seems this phospholipid can increase turmeric absorption and its anti-inflammatory effect. Objective: In order to find the role of lecithin in the folklore formulation, anti-inflammatory effects of ointments containing turmeric extract and lecithin have been studied. Methods: Ointment base was prepared using bees wax, vaseline, liquid paraffin and eucerin. Then, hydroalcoholic turmeric extract (2.5 % and 5 %) with lecithin (5 % and 15 %) or without lecithin were added to the ointment base. Anti-inflammatory effect of the ointments was assessed in arthritis model in rat using complete Freund’s adjuvant. Ointments were used daily on the inflamed joints for 20 days. Finally, arthritis index, TNF-α concentration and histopathological changes of joints were determined. Results: The results showed that arthritis index has decreased in all groups but it was significant in groups of turmeric 2.5 % and turmeric 5 % with lecithin 15 %. TNF-α was decreased in all samples but reduction was more significant in group turmeric 2.5 %. Histopathological changes were significantly less in turmeric groups compared to ointment base group. Conclusion: It seems that local healers use egg yolk as a binder in formulation. In other words, turmeric 2.5 % ointment is preferable compared to other formulations.