Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (26): 5579-5587.doi: 10.12307/2025.770

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Protective effect of Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule on knee osteoarthritis induced by sodium iodoacetate in model mice

Sun Hailiang1, 2, Pang Jian1, 2, 3, Shi Wanzhong1, Shi Ying1, 2, 3   

  1. 1Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; 2Shi Traumatology Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; 3Institute of Traumatology & Orthopedics, Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
  • Received:2024-09-03 Accepted:2024-10-16 Online:2025-09-18 Published:2025-02-25
  • Contact: Shi Wanzhong, MD, Chief pharmacist, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China Co-corresponding author: Shi Ying, MS, Doctoral supervisor, Chief physician, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shi Traumatology Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Institute of Traumatology & Orthopedics, Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
  • About author:Sun Hailiang, Master candidate, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Shi Traumatology Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
  • Supported by:
    Biomedical Science and Technology Support Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan, No. 22S21900700 (to SWZ); East China Region and Municipal Chinese Medicine Specialty Muscle and Bone Injury Specialty Alliance Construction (to SY)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant effects, but the mechanism of drug efficacy and whether it has therapeutic effects on knee osteoarthritis have not been elaborated.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule and its protective effect on knee osteoarthritis model mice.
METHODS: (1) Experiment 1: The anti-inflammatory effect of Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule on mice was evaluated by ear swelling induced by xylene. The levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in ear tissues were detected by ELISA. The morphology of ear tissues of anti-inflammatory mice was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. (2) Experiment 2: The analgesic effect of Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule on mice was evaluated by hot plate analgesia experiment. The levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, prostaglandin E2, bradykinin, and β-endorphin in serum of mice were detected by ELISA. (3) Experiment 3: The therapeutic effect of Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule on knee osteoarthritis was studied by injecting sodium iodoacetate into knee osteoarthritis model mice. The analgesic effect was evaluated by step analysis. The total antioxidant capacity kit was used to detect the total antioxidant capacity in serum. Micro-CT scan was used to analyze bone structure and bone volume fraction. The tissue morphology of articular cartilage was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and safranin O-fast green staining. The injury degree of articular cartilage was evaluated by modified Mankin’s score. The expression of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, and type II collagen in articular cartilage was detected by immunohistochemical staining. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In experiment 1, compared with blank group, Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule group could significantly inhibit the degree of ear swelling (P < 0.05), and decrease the levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 in ear tissue (P < 0.05). (2) In experiment 2, compared with blank group, Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule medium and high dose groups could significantly increase the pain threshold (P < 0.05), decrease the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, prostaglandin E2, and bradykinin in serum (P < 0.05), and increase the level of β-endorphin (P < 0.05). (3) In experiment 3, compared with the model group, the stride length of mice was significantly increased (P < 0.05); the serum total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased (P < 0.05); the subchondral bone destruction was inhibited by Micro-CT scanning, and bone volume fraction was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule group. The surface of articular cartilage was flat and the modified Mankin’s score was significantly decreased by hematoxylin-eosin and saffrane-O-solid green staining (P < 0.05). The expression of type II collagen was increased by immunohistochemical staining (P < 0.05), and the expression levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α were decreased (P < 0.05). (4) The results suggest that Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule may have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and joint protective effects. It can relieve the pain of knee osteoarthritis model mice, enhance the antioxidant capacity of the body, and improve the cartilage tissue morphology and the bone microstructure of subchondral bone, inhibiting the progression of osteoarthritis. 

Key words: Huaizhen Yanggan Capsule, mussel polysaccharide extract, anti-inflammatory, analgesia, knee osteoarthritis, cartilage, subchondral bone, antioxygenation, micro-CT, engineered tissue construction

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