RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect on the extract of total flavonoids of Chrysanthemum indicum (TFC) on adjuvant arthritis synovial cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>SD rats were divided randomly into six groups including normal, model, TFC (84, 168, 336 mg x kg(-1)) and control drug Tripterygium glycosides (30 mg x kg(-1)) groups. Adjuvant arthritis rat model was induced by a single intradermal injection of 0.1 mL of the complete Freund's adjuvant into the right hind feet pads of the SD rats. The proliferation of synoviocyte was measured by MT; The apoptosis rates of synovial cells were evaluated using TUNEL and FCM analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>TFC resulted in a dose-dependent way in inhibiting the proliferation of synovial and inducing the apoptosis of synovium and synoviocytes in vivo.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TFC can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in synovial cells, and exert therapeutical effect on rheumatoid arthritis.</p>