Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of taraxasterol on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.
BACKGROUND
Taraxasterol was isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Taraxacum which has been frequently used as a remedy for inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we determined the in vivo anti-arthritic effect of taraxasterol on arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) in rats.


METHODS
Rats were immunized with FCA by intradermal injection into the right hind metatarsal footpad, and were orally treated daily with taraxasterol at 2, 4 and 8mg/kg from day 2-28 after immunization. Paw swelling, arthritis index, body weight, spleen index and thymus index were evaluated. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, PGE2, OPG and RANKL in sera were measured using ELISA. Histopathological changes in joint tissues were examined using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E).


RESULTS
Taraxasterol significantly suppressed paw swelling and arthritis index, attenuated body weight loss, decreased the spleen index and thymus index induced by FCA. Furthermore, taraxasterol significantly inhibited the overproduction of serum TNF-α, IL-1β, PGE2 and RANKL, and increased serum OPG production in FCA-induced rats. Histopathological examination indicated that taraxasterol attenuated synovial hyperplasia, bone and cartilage damage, and inflammatory cell infiltration.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that taraxasterol has the potential protective effect against FCA-induced arthritis in rats.
Department of Animal Medicine, Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin 133002, PR China.
Shasha
S
Wang
Department of Animal Medicine, Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin 133002, PR China.
Ying
Y
Wang
Department of Animal Medicine, Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin 133002, PR China.
Xinyu
X
Liu
Department of Animal Medicine, Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin 133002, PR China.
Lizeng
L
Guan
Department of Animal Medicine, Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin 133002, PR China.
Longzheng
L
Yu
Department of Animal Medicine, Agricultural College of Yanbian University, Gongyuan Street, Yanji, Jilin 133002, PR China. Electronic address: zhangxm@ybu.edu.cn.
Xuemei
X
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000097:blood; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000097:blood; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013261:Sterols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013264:Stifle / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C000594089:IL1B protein, rat; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D013261:Sterols; C506032:Tnfrsf11b protein, rat; D014315:Triterpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C079988:taraxasterol; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D015232:Dinoprostone
Adjuvant arthritis; Anti-arthritis; Inflammation; Rats; Taraxasterol