title: [Effects and mechanism of total saponins of Psammosilene tunicoids against rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the antiarthritic effects and the possible mechanism of total saponins of Psammruosilene tunicoids (TSPT) against rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  After establishing AA rat model, the TSPT'S antiarthritic effects and mechanism against RA were studied through observing the changes of ankle swelling, arthritis index and levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha after medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TSPT could effectively inhibits articular swelling, decrease arthritis index and regulate down the content of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the inflammatory tissue soak of AA rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TSPT has good antiarthritic effects and the possible mechanism may be related to its down-regulation of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing. wxyfresh@sohu.com
authors.forename: Xue-yong
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-yang
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: De-wen
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Lu-qi
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D029748:Caryophyllaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D012503:Saponins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha