title: Metabolic regulatory and anti-oxidative effects of modified Bushen Huoxue decoction on experimental rabbit model of osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the metabolic, regulatory and anti-oxidative effects of modified Bushen Huoxue Decoction (BSHXD), a Chinese herbal medicine for kidney (Shen)-reinforcement and blood-activation, on an osteoarthritis (OA) rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rabbit model for knee joint OA was established by the classic Hulth's method. The OA model rabbits were randomized into 5 groups: the model control group, the positive control group treated with glucosamine sulfate, and the three BSHXD treated groups treated respectively with low, moderate, and high doses of BSHXD. In addition, a normal control group and a sham-operated group were set up. Experimental animals were sacrificed after a 7-week treatment, and pathological changes in cartilaginous tissue were estimated using the Mankin criteria. Hydroxyproline (Hyp) and malonaldehyde (MDA) contents in blood serum and urine, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and nitric oxide (NO) content in blood serum and knee joint synovial homogenates were detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mankin scoring showed insignificant statistical differences between the various treatment groups (P >0.05), but all were better than the model control group (P <0.05). Serum and urinary contents of Hyp and MDA as well as serum and synovial levels of NO were significantly lower, but the SOD activity in blood serum and synovial tissue was higher in the BSHXD treated groups than in the model group P <0.01); the effect of BSHXD was dose-dependent to some extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified BSHXD shows an effect of improving cartilage metabolism in experimental rabbits with OA, and possesses osteo-chondric protective effects in antagonizing peroxidation injury.
authors.affiliation: First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan-hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiao-ya
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Kuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C527851:bushen huoxue; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D006909:Hydroxyproline