ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the therapeutic effect of Jiawu Mufangji Decoction (JMD) in treating rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA) and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>AA model rats induced by Freund's complete adjuvant were treated with JMD by gastrogavage starting from 18 days after modeling. On the 39th day, body weight, spleen and thymus index, and swelling degree of paw of the AA rats were measured, pathological changes of the ankle joint tissue were observed using HE staining, and serum levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-alpha) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>JMD could relieve the symptoms of AA rats, decrease the paw swelling, improve the weight and spleen and thymus index, reduce the dropsy of joints and lymphocytes infiltration, inhibit the proliferation of synovium, and obviously lower the serum levels of interleukin-1beta and TNF-alpha.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic effect of JMD might be related to its action in down-regulating the serum levels of IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha.</p>