title: UP3005, a Botanical Composition Containing Two Standardized Extracts of Uncaria gambir and Morus alba, Improves Pain Sensitivity and Cartilage Degradations in Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Rat OA Disease Model.
abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease primarily noted by cartilage degradation in association with inflammation that causes significant morbidity, joint pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Present-day management of OA is inadequate due to the lack of principal therapies proven to be effective in hindering disease progression where symptomatic therapy focused approach masks the actual etiology leading to irreversible damage. Here, we describe the effect of UP3005, a composition containing a proprietary blend of two standardized extracts from the leaf of Uncaria gambir and the root bark of Morus alba, in maintaining joint structural integrity and alleviating OA associated symptoms in monosodium-iodoacetate- (MIA-) induced rat OA disease model. Pain sensitivity, micro-CT, histopathology, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) level analysis were conducted. Diclofenac at 10 mg/kg was used as a reference compound. UP3005 resulted in almost a complete inhibition in proteoglycans degradation, reductions of 16.6% (week 4), 40.5% (week 5), and 22.0% (week 6) in pain sensitivity, statistically significant improvements in articular cartilage matrix integrity, minimal visual subchondral bone damage, and statistically significant increase in bone mineral density when compared to the vehicle control with MIA. Therefore, UP3005 could potentially be considered as an alternative therapy from natural sources for the treatment of OA and/or its associated symptoms.
authors: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA ; Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Mesfin
authors: M
authors: Yimam
authors: Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Young-Chul
authors: YC
authors: Lee
authors: Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Tae-Woo
authors: TW
authors: Kim
authors: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors: Breanna
authors: B
authors: Moore
authors: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Jiao
authors: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Hong
authors: Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyun-Jin
authors: HJ
authors: Kim
authors: Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jeong-Bum
authors: JB
authors: Nam
authors: Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Mi-Ran
authors: MR
authors: Kim
authors: Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jin-Sun
authors: JS
authors: Oh
authors: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Cleveland
authors: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA ; Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Eu-Jin
authors: EJ
authors: Hyun
authors: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA ; Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Chu
authors: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA ; Unigen, Inc., No. 450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam 330-863, Republic of Korea.
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Jia