ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo reveal the mechanism of action of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by pharmacological research based on its clinical application. MethodThe collagen-induced arthritis （CIA） rat model was established by injecting bovine type Ⅱ collagen and Freund's adjuvant at the tail， and was treated with different concentrations of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang. The rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， methotrexate （0.9 mg·kg-1） group， and Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang low- and high-dose （5.13， 20.52 g·kg-1·d-1） groups， with continuous intragastric administration for 4 weeks. The degree of joint swelling， weight， degree of foot swelling and arthritis index score were determined and the pathological changes of ankle joints were detected by hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining to observe the therapeutic effect of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang on rheumatoid arthritis. In addition， enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and Western blot were used to measure the expression of interleukin 1β （IL-1β）， interleukin 6 （IL-6）， interleukin 10 （IL-10） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in serum and the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB） pathway related proteins in synovial tissue， respectively to clarify the molecular mechanism of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. ResultCompared with the conditions in blank group， the body weight and IL-10 level were decreased （P<0.01）， and the degree of foot swelling and arthritis index score， the levels of IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α， and the expression of NF-κB pathway related proteins were increased （P<0.01，） in the model group， with impaired morphology and function of the ankle joint. Additionally， compared with the model group， Huangqi Guizhi Wuwutang low- and high-dose groups had increased body weight of rats and IL-10 level （P<0.01）， and reduced degree of foot swelling and arthritis index score （P<0.05， P<0.01）， levels of IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α （P<0.01） and expression of NF-κB pathway related proteins （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with improved function and morphology of the ankle joint. ConclusionHuangqi Guizhi Wuwutang can significantly alleviate joint inflammatory injury by down-regulating NF-κB pathway and reducing the inflammatory response in CIA rats.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To establish quantitative analysis of multi-components with single marker (QAMS) for determination of 10 phloroglucinol contents in effective fraction of Dryopteris fragrans. Methods: The relative correction factors of nine phloroglucinol (aspidin PB, aspidin AB, flavaspidic acid BB, saroaspidin A, flavaspidic acid PB, disflavapidic acid PB, flavaspidic acid AB, compound VI, and aspidinol B) were determined by HPLC method with the aspidinn BB as the internal standard, which were to calculate the content of each. At the same time, external standard method (ESM) was used to determine the contents of 10 components in effective fraction, and the differences between the two methods were compared to verify the feasibility and accuracy of QAMS method. Results: The relative correction factor (RCF) was good. There was no significant difference between the quantitative results with the two methods in the 12 batches of 10 phloroglucinols. Conclusion: The established QAMS method can be used for quantitative analysis of D. fragrans with aspidinn BB as the internal standard in the absence of reference substances, and provided a reference for the multi-index quality evaluation in effective fraction of D. fragrans.