title: Crocin reduces the inflammation response in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: This study is to determine the role and mechanism of crocin in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Totally 60 Wistar SD rats were randomly divided into control group, RA model group, methotrexate group, crocin high dose, middle dose, and low dose groups. The paw swelling degree, arthritis score, thymus and spleen index, the mRNA and protein levels of iNOS, and the serum content of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were evaluated. Crocin treatment significantly alleviated the paw swelling of RA rats. The arthritis score in crocin treatment groups was significantly lower than that in RA model group. Additionally, the thymus index, but not the spleen index, declined remarkably in crocin treatment groups than in RA model group. Besides, crocin administration significantly reduced the iNOS production and the serum content of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Crocin may exert potent anti-RA effects through inhibiting cytokine.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital , Zaozhuang , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: b Department of Rehabilitation , Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital , Zaozhuang , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: c Medical Department , Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital , Zaozhuang , P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wenyong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002338:Carotenoids; C029036:crocin; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
keywords: F-α; IL-1β; IL-6; NOS; rheumatoid arthritis