ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the medical effect of the ethanol extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.on arthritis of mice induced by collagen-Ⅱ,and explore the potential pharmacological mechanisms.Methods Arthritis mouse model was established by injection of admixture containing type Ⅱ collagen and Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) in male BALB/c mice.Mice were divided into five groups:the normal control group (0.9% of sodium chloride solution),the model control group (0.9% of sodium chloride solution),tripterygium group (15 μg·kg-1 of tripterygium tablets), the high-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.group (60 mg·kg-1 extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.) and the low-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.group (15 mg·kg-1 extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.).Each group was administered once a day,lasting 21 days.During the experiment,ankles of all mice were measured at predetermined time.At the end of the experiment,blood of the mice was exsanguinated and centrifuged to get serum for measuring the levels of IL-1β,RF and TNF-α.Spleens of mice were dissected and weighed to calculate the spleen index.All arthritis ankles were dissected to make tissue section,and observed under microscope.Results Compared with the model control group,the perimeter of ankle joints of the high-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.group significantly changed 6 days after administration (P<0.05);That of the low-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.group significantly changed 12 days after administration (P<0.05);That of tripterygium group significantly changed 9 days after administration (P<0.05).As compared with the normal control group, the spleen index of the model control group was significantly different (P<0.01).As compared with the model control group,the spleen index of tripterygium group,high-dose and low-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.groups were significantly different (P<0.05).As compared with the normal control group,levels of IL-1β,RF and TNF-α of the model control group were significantly different (all P<0.01).As compared with the model control group,levels of IL-1β,RF and TNF-α of tripterygium group,high-dose and low-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.groups were significantly decreased.Conclusion Ethanol extracts of Acorus gramineus Sol.have significant therapeutic effect on arthritis mice.The anti-arthritic mechanism is associated with its ability to regulate levels of IL-1β,RF and TNF-α.