C f a complete freund s adjuvant

Male Wister albino rats (10 weeks old) weighing 130–150 g were purchased from the animal unit of Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, left for acclimation for ten days, and split into six groups (twelve rats each). The first group was observed as negative control (N.C.) infused subcutaneously with saline and 10% Tween-80, twice per week for two weeks. The other groups were interjected subcutaneously twice a week for two weeks at the base of the tail with 100 μL C.F.A. (Complete Freund's Adjuvant) (Sigma-Aldrich, U.S.A.) to convene arthritis model [36 (link)]. The second group presents the positive control (P.C.) that was kept untreated. Three estimated doses (15.6, 31, and 60 mg/kg) of Z. coccineum extract were administrated subcutaneously in the third, fourth, and fifth groups, respectively. Lastly, antirheumatic standard drug MTX (Methotrexate) (Orion Pharma, Espoo, Finland) was injected. Signs of arthritis were raised after 14 days, and then Z. coccineum extract was used three times per week for 2 weeks at a dose of 15.6, 31, and 60 mg/kg extract B.W. MTX was used subcutaneously twice per week at a dose of 0.3 mg/Kg B.W. [37 (link)] as shown in supplement (1). The animal studies were approved by the ethical committee in the Regional Center for Mycology and Biotechnology (No. RCMB26062020).