title: The effect of water extracts of Euphorbia hirta on cartilage degeneration in arthritic rats.
abstract: The effect of water extracts of Euphorbia hirta on the histological features and expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the rat articular cartilage was investigated. Arthritis was induced in rats using Freund's Complete Adjuvant containing heat-killed M. tuberculosis, and treated with water extracts of E. hirta. Paraffin tissue sections of the arthritic joints were evaluated. The extent of cartilage degeneration was found to be greatest in rats treated with the highest dosage of E. hirta, followed by rats in the untreated group. Rats treated with the intermediary and low dosages of Euphorbia hirta showed improved histology. MMP-13 levels were found to be decreased with decreasing dosages of E. hirta. TIMP-1 levels were found to increase with decreasing dosages of E. hirta. MMP-3 levels fluctuated without any appreciable pattern. Low dosages of E. hirta seem to be beneficial in reducing cartilage degeneration in cases of arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Human Biology Section, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kah Heng
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yu Sui
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: John Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Judson
authors.forename: Srikumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakravarthi
authors.forename: Yen Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Hui Meng
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Er
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D028481:Euphorbia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3