title: The anti-arthritic activity of total glycosides from Pterocephalus hookeri, a traditional Tibetan herbal medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pterocephalus hookeri (C. B. Clarke) Hock., a traditional Tibetan herbal medicine rich in glycosides, has been used to treat several diseases including rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of total glycosides from P. hookeri, and its possible mechanisms of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anti-arthritic activity of total glycosides from P. hookeri (oral administration for 30 days at 14-56 mg/kg) was evaluated using paw swelling, arthritis scores and histopathological measurement in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) Sprague-Dawley rats. The NF-κB p65 expression in synovial tissues, and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels was measured in AA rats, respectively. Further assessment of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of these glycosides were carried out using inflammation and hyperalgesia models induced by xylene, carrageenan, agar and acetic acid, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total glycosides (56 mg/kg) decreased the paw swelling (38.0%, p < 0.01), arthritis scores (25.3%, p < 0.01) and synovial inflammation in AA rats. The glycosides significantly (p < 0.05-0.01) attenuated the inflammation induced by xylene, carrageenan, acetic acid and agar, increased the pain threshold in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and mechanical stimuli-induced hyperalgia in AA rats. The glycosides (14, 28, 56 mg/kg) also suppressed the NF-κB p65 expression (33.1-78.2%, p < 0.05-0.01), reduced MDA (21.3-35.9%, p < 0.01) and NO (20.3-32.4%, p < 0.05-0.01) levels, respectively, enhanced the SOD activity (7.8%, p < 0.05) at 56 mg/kg in AA rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings confirmed the anti-arthritic property of the total glycosides from P. hookeri, which may be attributed to its inhibition on NF-κB signalling and oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy , Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy , Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy , Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Jia-Chuan
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: b College of Ethnic Medicine , Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Ce
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: b College of Ethnic Medicine , Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy , Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Xian-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D027922:Caprifoliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D006027:Glycosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007596:Joints / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D038861:Medicine, Tibetan Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D006027:Glycosides; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D028321:Plant Preparations; C498145:Rela protein, rat; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: NF-κB; Pterocephalus hookeri (C. B. Clarke) Hock; Tibetan herbal medicine; adjuvant-induced arthritis; anti-arthritic activity; anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities; oxidative stress; total glycosides