Evaluating the anti‐arthritic potential of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in FCA induced Sprague Dawley rats

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune progressive disease, associated with many pathophysiological consequences. Owing to the adverse effects and higher costs of pharmaceuticals, people are now looking for complementary and alternative remedies. In this milieu, the present study was designed to explore the therapeutic potential of walnuts against FCA‐induced arthritis in rat models. Purposely, 50 Sprague Dawley rats were housed in a well‐ventilated animal room and separated into 5 groups of 10 rats each. The rats were categorized as G0 (negative control), G1 (positive control, i.e., FCA induced untreated arthritic rats), G2 (arthritic rats treated with MTX), G3 (arthritic rats treated with walnut feed), and G4 (arthritic rats treated with walnut extract), with an efficacy trial lasting for 42 days. The physical analysis explicated that paw swelling was significantly improved by 10%–12.8% in treatment groups after the intervention when compared with positive control. Moreover, biochemical analyses revealed significantly lower levels of ESR, CRP, and RF in rats treated with walnut‐based interventions when compared to positive control. ESR values were decreased by 62.4% and 69.92% in G3 and G4, whereas CRP levels were improved by 56.20% and 77.78% in G3 and G4 when compared with G1. Likewise, RF values decreased in G2, G3, and G4 by 64.71%, 55.88%, and 69.24%, respectively when compared to G1. The histological examination demonstrated the potential role of walnut‐based interventions in reducing the severity of disease by decreasing cell infiltration, bone erosion, and paw inflammation. Meanwhile, the gene expression analysis revealed that walnut‐based interventions protected the paw joints from damage by downregulating the RANKL‐OPG pathway. Conclusively, walnut feed and extract may serve as potent anti‐arthritic interventions with no side effects. Practical applications Plant‐based therapeutics are effective in the prevention and management of various chronic diseases. The current research explored the anti‐arthritic potential of walnuts. Walnut feed and extract effectively reduced the serum arthritic biomarkers as well as downregulated the genes involved in bone destruction. Thus, the inclusion of dietary ingredients having therapeutic potential such as walnuts may be synchronized in clinical practices to ameliorate arthritis. Walnut‐based intervention (walnut feed and walnut extract) significantly reduced the paw swelling, demonstrating its potency in