Therapeutic effects of Caragana pruinosa Kom. roots extract on type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats.
BACKGROUND
Caragana pruinosa Kom. is a deciduous shrub belonging to the genus of Caragana (Leguminosae), and Caragana plants exhibit a wide range of interesting pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-arthritis activity, etc.


OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to investigate the anti-arthritic effect of 80% EtOH extract from the roots of C. pruinosa (ERCP) on arthritis and explore the potential pharmacological mechanism.


METHODS
After collagen induced arthritis (CIA) were established in rats, the animals were orally administered with ERCP (130, 260 and 520mg/kg) for 30 days. During the treatment, the rats' body weights, arthritis indices and paw volumes were measured every 5 days. Subsequently, rats' blood samples were collected to determine TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and C-reactive protein (CRP) contents in serum. Then, rats were sacrificed and the hind paws and knee joints were collected for histopathological examination.


RESULTS
Our results indicated that ERCP significantly suppressed the inflammatory reactions and destructions in joints and synovial tissues. ERCP inhibited the paw swelling and arthritis index in CIA rats. Additionally, it decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and CRP, whereas increased that of IL-10.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggested ERCP has significant anti-arthritic effect on CIA rats, and the pharmacological mechanisms are related to the down-regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and CRP and the up-regulation of IL-10.
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China; College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, PR China.
Wei
W
Peng
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
Liang
L
Wang
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
Xuhui
X
Qiu
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
Yiping
Y
Jiang
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
Ting
T
Han
Xinjiang Institute of Chinese Materia Medica and Ethnodrug, Urumqi 830002, PR China.
Lan
L
Pan
Xinjiang Institute of Chinese Materia Medica and Ethnodrug, Urumqi 830002, PR China.
Xiaoguang
X
Jia
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China. Electronic address: qinsmmu@126.com.
Luping
L
Qin
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China. Electronic address: zhengchengjian@smmu.edu.cn.
Chengjian
C
Zheng
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D032602:Caragana / Q000737:chemistry*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003094:Collagen; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007596:Joints / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013997:Time Factors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C030929:Crp protein, rat; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016753:Interleukin-10; D003094:Collagen
Anti-arthritic effect; Caragana pruinosa Kom.; Pro-inflammatory cytokines; Rheumatoid arthritis; Type II collagen