ABSTRACT
Garcinia angustifolia is a dry resin secreted by Garcinia cambogia, which has the functions of breaking blood, detoxifying, stopping bleeding and killing insects. It is used for the treatment of cancer and brain edema. Gambogic acid is the primary active ingredient. The present study aimed to investigate the antiinflammatory and antiproliferative effects of gambogic acid on arthritis and the possible mechanisms. It was demonstrated that gambogic acid decreased arthritic scores in murine collageninduced arthritic mice. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL)1ß, IL6 and IL18 concentrations, and caspase3 and caspase9 were significantly inhibited by gambogic acid in arthritic mice. Gambogic acid decreased matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)2, MMP9, nuclear factor (NF)κB and phosphorylatedp38 protein expression, and increased tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteases1 (TIMP1) protein expression in arthritic mice. Furthermore, the phosphoinositide 3kinase (PI3K)/AKT serine/threonine kinase (Akt) signaling pathway was induced in arthritic mice treated with gambogic acid. The results suggested that gambogic acid induced antiinflammatory effects in murine collageninduced arthritis, through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and offers future potential for application in arthritis patients.