PRESENCE OF AN ACIDIC GLYCOPROTEIN IN THE SERUM OF ARTHRITIC RATS - MODULATION BY CAPSAICIN AND CURCUMIN

Levels of various serum proteins were found to change in adjuvant indu ced arthritis. Increased levels of a glycoprotein with an apparent mol ecular weight of 72 kDa (Gp A(72)) were observed in the sera of arthri tic rats. Gp A(72) is an acidic glycoprotein with a pi of 5.1. Gp A(72 ) also showed antitryptic activity. The appearance of Gp A(72) in the serum preceded the onset of paw inflammation in arthritic rats and per sisted in the chronic phase. Oral administration of the antiinflammato ry spice principles-capsaicin (from red pepper) and curcumin (from tur meric) lowered the levels of Gp A(72) by 88 and 73% respectively with concomitant lowering of paw inflammation in arthritic rats.