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2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (17): 2649-2653Echinops latifolius, a Mongolian medicine, for treating cartilage injury in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritisKong Lingyue1, Hu Yongcheng1, Han Changxu2
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is clinically common, which is the most common cause of chronic disability in middle-aged and elderly people. Echinops latifolius, as a Mongolian medicine, has positive therapeutic effect in bone diseases. However, its effect and mechanism on osteoarthritis remain to be investigated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Echinops latifoliuss on knee osteoarthritis and on the expression of type II collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 13. METHODS: Thirty healthy Chinese white rabbits were selected and randomly divided into a control group (n=10) and a knee osteoarthritis group (n=20). Rabbits in the knee osteoarthritis group were fixed with cast plaster for 8 weeks to prepare knee osteoarthritis models. After successful modeling, rabbits in the knee osteoarthritis group were subdivided into an Echinops latifolius group and a model control group. In the Echinops latifolius group, 3.25 g/L Echinops latifolius was administered at a dose of 20 mL/kg by gavage. The control and model control groups were intragastrically administered normal saline at a dose of 20 mL/kg. Rabbits in each group were given continuous gastric gavage for 90 days, and then killed under anesthesia. Knee joint cartilage was taken and sliced. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was use to observe the histological changes of cartilage. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of type II collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 13, and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the protein expression of type II collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 13. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Echinops latifolius could improve osteoarthritis-induced cartilage damage of and promote the proliferation of chondrocytes and matrix. In addition, Echinops latifolius could promote the mRNA and protein expression of type II collagen in osteoarthritis, and inhibit the high expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 at mRNA and protein levels caused by osteoarthritis. To conclude, Echinops latifolius can promote the expression of type II collagen and inhibit the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13, thereby playing a positive role in the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis. Key words:osteoarthritis, Mongolian medicine, Echinops latifolius, type II collagen, matrix metalloproteinase 13, ethnic medicine |