Anti-Arthritic Effect of Chebulanin on Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Mice

• Published in: PloS one 2015-09, Vol.10 (9), p.e0139052-e0139052
• Main Authors: Zhao, Yinglan, Liu, Fang, Liu, Yao, Zhou, Dan, Dai, Qing, Liu, Songqing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Anti-inflammatory agents; Arthritis; Arthritis, Experimental - diagnostic imaging; Arthritis, Experimental - drug therapy; Arthritis, Experimental - enzymology; Arthritis, Experimental - pathology; Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging; Bone and Bones - drug effects; Bone and Bones - pathology; Care and treatment; Cartilage; Collagen; Computed tomography; Cyclooxygenase 2 - metabolism; Cyclooxygenase-2; Cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; Destruction; Disease; Drug dosages; Erosion rates; Government agencies; Herbal medicine; Hospitals; Hydrolyzable Tannins - chemistry; Hydrolyzable Tannins - pharmacology; Hydrolyzable Tannins - therapeutic use; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Immunoglobulins; Immunology; Inflammation; Inflammation - enzymology; Inflammation - pathology; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Interleukin 6; Joint diseases; Joints - drug effects; Joints - enzymology; Joints - pathology; Life assessment; Male; Mass spectrometry; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 - metabolism; Membranes; Mice; Mice, Inbred DBA; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Pathogenesis; Pharmacy; Rheumatic diseases; Rheumatoid arthritis; Scientific imaging; Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tumor necrosis factor-α
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139052

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic degenerative autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation of synovial membranes, which leads to cartilage destruction and bone erosion. To date, there are no effective therapies to slow the progress of this degenerative condition. Here, we evaluate the anti-arthritic effect of chebulanin, an abundant anti-inflammatory agent isolated from Terminalia chebula, in collagen induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice by intragastric administration. Arthritic severity was scored by performing histopathological evaluation of the joints and measuring the expression of inflammatory cytokines and relative enzymes by immunohistochemical staining. In parallel, bone destruction and erosion were confirmed by micro-CT. Our data revealed that chebulanin significantly improved the severity of arthritis. Specifically, the histopathological characteristics of the tissues were improved and expression of TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-3 and COX-2 in the paws and joints of the treated mice decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared with control mice. Furthermore, micro-CT analysis revealed that chebulanin induced a dose-dependent reduction in cartilage destruction and bone erosion. Taken together, our findings suggest that chebulanin suppresses the expression of inflammatory mediators and prevents cartilage destruction and bone erosion in mice. Therefore, chebulanin is a strong therapeutic alternative for the treatment of RA.