Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Natural Oils on Osteoarthritis: Insights from a Rat Model

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BSTRACT

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disease that afflicts both humans and animals. Intra-articular (IA) treatments might have better outcomes and fewer adverse effects compared to systemic treatment with analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of IA injection of natural oils in a rat model of OA. Forty-eight male rats were included in the study, with OA induced using monosodium iodoacetate in the knee joint. The rats were divided into eight groups receiving (1) saline, (2) hyaluronic acid, (3) oleaster oil, (4) fenugreek seed oil, (5) fish oil, (6) ostrich oil, (7) oleaster and fenugreek seed oil, and (8) fish and ostrich oil mix. After three treatment sessions on days 1, 7, and 14, the rats were evaluated radiologically. The knees were excised after euthanasia, and the histopathological response was evaluated. Furthermore, the serological evaluation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was made. Based on the total OA score in radiology, fish oil, fenugreek seed oil, and mixed animal oils showed the best results. However, all of the treatment groups had significantly better results compared to the control group and hyaluronic acid group ( P ≤ 0.05). In histopathological evaluation, fish oil, fenugreek seed, and oleaster oils showed the most superior effects. Furthermore, all treatment groups showed decreased IL-1β and increased TAC compared to the control group. IA injections of these natural oils showed therapeutic properties against OA. Further research is warranted to determine the optimal dosage and to evaluate the potential side effects.