title: Effects of flavangenol, an extract of French maritime pine bark on collagen-induced arthritis in rats.
abstract: Flavangenol (FG), an extract of French maritime pine bark (Pinus maritime) mainly contains proanthocyanidin in oligomers. It has many physiological effects, including antioxidant and anti-atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of FG on rat collagen-induced arthritis, a model of human rheumatoid arthritis. The rats were fed with the diet of control, 0.3% FG, or 1% FG for 4 wk after the induction of arthritis. The FG diets, compared with the control diet, suppressed the increase in arthritic score and swelling of the paws in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological examination revealed evidence that the 1% FG diet suppressed acute and chronic articular lesions in the rats. In addition, the FG diets (0.3% and 1%) suppressed the production of nitric oxide in the plasma of the rats. These results suggest that dietary FG has beneficial effects on collagen-induced arthritis in rats by inhibiting the acute and chronic inflammatory reactions.
authors: Research and Development Division, Toyo Shinyaku Co., Ltd., Tosu, Saga, Japan.
authors: Masahito
authors: M
authors: Tsubata
authors: Kinya
authors: K
authors: Takagaki
authors: Shin-ichi
authors: S
authors: Hirano
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Iwatani
authors: Chiyuki
authors: C
authors: Abe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D044946:Biflavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D044946:Biflavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; C504746:flavangenol; D009569:Nitric Oxide