title: Preventive administration of juanbi capsules for knee osteoarthritis: effects on serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and cartilage repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the mechanism of action of Juanbi Capsules, a Chinese medicine for invigorating the kidney and replenishing qi, in preventing osteoarthritis of the knee in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two 4-month-old, Japanese long-eared white rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups: control (group A), model (group B), Chinese drug; high-dose (group C), Chinese drug; mid-dose (group D), Chinese drug; low-dose (group E), and drug control (group F). With the exception of the rabbits in group A, each rabbit was subjected to plaster cast fixation for 6 weeks to induce osteoarthritis. In addition, rabbits were administrated with an intragastric injection of the Chinese drug (groups C, D and E) or an aminoglucose hydrochloride capsule (group F) for 4 weeks. Blood was drawn from the central ear artery for serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations, and the knee joint cartilage was harvested for gross observation and light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations between group B and groups C, D and E (P < 0.05), with no significant differences between groups D and F. Histological results showed various changes in tissue staining with treatment, with osteophyte and bone cyst formation, and superficial erosion in the articular surface of the cartilage; in some cases, the defect reached the mid-layer of the cartilage, and these changes were lower than those in the model group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Juanbi Capsules assist in preventing osteoarthritis in the rabbit, possibly by decreasing serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopedics and Thaumatology, Shaanxi College of TCM, Xianyang 712000, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Pu-Wei
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Hong-Chao
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hai-Zhe
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: De-Yu
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9