RESUMEN
To investigate the influence of Commiphora mukul resin [guggul] on the knee articular cartilage of rats in experimental osteoarthritis. To induce osteoarthritis [OA], single intra-articular injection of MIA [1 mg] in the rat knee joints was performed. Histopathological changes in knee joints were observed after two weeks. The beneficial effect of guggul was studied, orally. The early OA characterized by areas of chondrocytes degeneration in the tibial plateaus and femorat condyles. Changes to the subchondral bone and proteog[ycane contents and synoviat cell proliferation, were observed. Administration of guggul prevented the negative effects of iodoacetate, dose dependently. Chondrocyte damages were significantly prevented and proteoglycane were less affected, especially in high guggul dose and no cell proliferation and inflammatory cell were detected in synovial. The effectiveness of guggut in improvement of histopathotogical damages is emphasized and its chondroprotective effect in vivo is highlighted