ラットにおける大豆オカラ抽出物の経口投与による変形性関節症の痛みと進行の軽減

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common inflammatory degenerative disease that causes joint pain and irreversible bone damage, affecting many middle-aged and elderly people. Currently, there is no effective treatment available. Okara, a byproduct of soybean processing, contains bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties similar to those found in soybeans, making it a promising candidate for reuse as a food supplement to provide health benefits. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of soybean okara extract (SOE) in OA using a rat surgical anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) OA model. Oral administration of SOE significantly alleviated bone pain associated with ACLT, as demonstrated by a weight-bearing behavioral assay. Histopathological analysis revealed that oral SOE ameliorated ACLT-induced bone destruction, improved cartilage and synovium integrity, and reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and the chondrolytic enzyme MMP-3. This, in turn, led to a decrease in the degradation of aggrecan and collagen type II, thereby preserving cartilage. These findings suggest that oral administration of SOE could be a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of OA.