Comparative Biochemical and Pharmacological Assessment of Expired and Unexpired Diclofenac on Egg Albumin-Induced Inflammation in Wistar Rats

Abstract

A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID) called diclofenac is recommended for treatment in rheumatoid arthritis
and several non-rheumatoid illnesses that cause pain and inflammation. The relative effectiveness of drugs after their stated
expiration dates is up for debate. Furthermore, studies reveal that drugs lose their effectiveness after expiration because the
active ingredients may become less potent or more unstable. The purpose of this study was to examine how the medicine
diclofenac, both expired and unexpired, affected the inflammation caused by egg albumin in Wistar rats. For the purpose of the
efficacy trial, twenty-four wistar rats weighing between 120 and 150 grams were split up into four groups of six rats each. Group
C was given outdated diclofenac medication, Group D was given expired diclofenac medication, Group B was given inflammation
without treatment, and Group A (control group) was given 0.5 mL/kg distilled water. Rats’ paw edema caused by fresh egg
albumin was used to measure anti-inflammatory responses. A vernier caliper was positioned at the edge of the phalanges and
metatarsals to measure and record the animals’ paw thickness. The test medications and controls were administered orally to
the rats. Before being administered, the uncoated tablets were broken up and dissolved. A vernier caliper was used to measure
and record the anti-inflammatory activity one hour after treatment began. This process was repeated one, two, three, four,
and five hours later. Ocular punctures were used to obtain blood, which was then centrifuged to extract serum. Assessments
of haematological parameters, biochemical parameters, oxidative stress biomarkers, and histology were conducted. According to the findings, the control and unexpired diclofenac groups had considerably higher levels of oxidative stress indicators like
SOD, CAT, and GSH than the other groups. Compared to the control and unexpired diclofenac groups, the induced untreated and
expired groups had significantly higher MDA levels. HDL concentration was significantly higher in the control and unexpired
drug group than in the induced untreated group, but liver function parameters (ALT, AST, ALP) and lipid profile parameters
(TAG, CHOL, LDL) were significantly higher in the induced untreated group than in the control, unexpired, and expired groups.
All of the groups had different levels of urea, uric acid, and total bilirubin. The control and unexpired groups had considerably
higher hematological results (WBC, RBC, neutrophils, hemoglobin, and monocytes) than the diclofenac-expired and induced
untreated groups. When compared to the control and group that received unexpired diclofenac, the histopathology results also
examined liver damage in both the induced untreated group and the groups that received expired medication. According to the
study’s findings, the medication diclofenac that has not expired has the strength to perform anti-inflammatory, analgesic,and
antipyretic effects. Additionally, there are still some active ingredients in outdated diclofenac that have the same function.