Methotrexate

Methotrexate (Amethopterin), an antimetabolite and antifolate agent, inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, thereby preventing the conversion of folic acid into tetrahydrofolate, and inhibiting DNA synthesis. Methotrexate, also an immunosuppressant and antineoplastic agent, is used for the research of rheumatoid arthritis and a number of different cancers (such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia)^[1][2][3]. IC50 & Target:Antifolate^[1] In Vivo:Methotrexate (Amethopterin) reduces thymus and spleen indices of mice. Methotrexate markedly decreases white blood cells, thymic and splenic lymphocytes at dose ≥5 mg/kg. However, there is a significant difference between the treatment plus control group and the model group (p<0.01). The combination of grape seed proanthocyanidins and Siberian ginseng eleutherosides obviously diminishes the effects of Methotrexate exposure on indices of thymus and spleens in mice^[2].
Methotrexate (MTX) (2 mg/kg; i.p.; once in a week for 5 weeks) is effective in Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritis. The combination of Methotrexate (1 mg/kg; i.p.; once in a week for 5 weeks) and Curcumin (30 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, thrice a week for 5 weeks; i.p.) shows a significant anti-arthritic action and protection from hematological toxicity^[4].