CHONDROPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF BEE-VENOM MELITTIN AND CRAB SHELL CHITIN ON PAPAIN INDUCED OSTEOARTHRITIS IN RABBITS

In the present study the chondroprotective effect of melittin and chitin from bee venom and crab shell was examined against papain induced osteoarthritis in rabbits. The leukocyte count in synovial fluid, X-ray radiography of ankle joints and histopathology of joint cartilage were performed to assess chondroprotective activity. There is a significant fall in leukocyte count of bee venom (1.2mg/kg, s.c) treated group when compared with osteoarthritic control and the standard groups. Histopathological studies exhibit that the chitin (80mg/kg, i.a) treated group shows no degradation in joint cartilage when compared to bee venom and combination (bee venom+chitin) groups which shown little deviations to that of prednisolone ( 10mg/kg, s.c) group. X-ray graphs revealed that bee venom, chitin and combination of both shows good chondroprotective activity. Keywords: Leukocytes, Chondroprotective, Bee venom, Melittin, Chitin