Anti-arthritic effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on collagen induced arthritis in mice
Hyun Ah Kim1, Suho Kim, Sun Hwa Chang
1Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Republic of Korea. kimha@hallym.ac.kr
Background:
The development of orally bioavailable, inexpensive inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is desirable for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Objective:
To show the efficacy of ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1), a ginseng extract, on the inhibition of TNF-alpha upregulation and on the inhibition of collagen induced arthritis (CIA).
Methods:
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), chondrocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were stimulated with interferon(IFN)-gamma, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin-1 in the presence or absence of G-Rb1. The concentrations of (TNF)-alpha in the culture supernatants were determined by ELISA. CIA was induced in DBA/1J mice and G-Rb1 was prophylactically administered from day 20 until day 39 following immunization. Histopathologic changes were scored, and the expression of TNF-alpha was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.
Result:
G-Rb1 significantly inhibited TNF-alpha upregulation in PBMCs, FLS and chondrocytes induced by IFN-gamma, LPS or IL-1. Administration of G-Rb1 resulted in a significant amelioration of the clinical arthritis score in the CIA mice. Histology revealed that G-Rb1 reduced cell infiltration and cartilage destruction in the arthritic joint, which was accompanied by a significant decrease in TNF-alpha expression.
Conclusion:
The utilization of G-Rb1 is a feasible approach to the treatment of RA or other diseases characterized by upregulation of TNF-alpha.
