The Anti-rheumatoid Arthritis Activity Of Fagopyrum Cymosum And Its Mechanism Study

Fagopyrum cymosum (Trey.) Meisn is the dry root of a species of genus Fagopyrum (Polygonaceae), which grows mainly in southwester, northeast, and northwest in China. As the most widely distributed wild species and has a resource-rich. Its rhizome was regarded as a folk medicine in China to treat various ailments of the lung, dysentery and rheumatism. However, no in vivo study on the therapeutic effects of Fagopyrum cymosum (Trey.) Meisn for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has been reported and the detailed mechanisms of action have not been understood.The aims of the current study were to identify the most efftive extracts from the rhizomes of Fagopyrum cymosum in the adjuvant arthritis (AA) model and pain model, and to further investigate the possible underlying mechanisms. The study would provide experimental basis for the development of Fagopyrum cymosum (Trey.) Meisn into an anti-rheumatic drug. The study included four parts:1. An evaluation system with arthritis damage, index of immune organs, histopathological and hematological parameters was employed in the study, and the possible underlying mechanisms in which some pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1and TNF-a are involved were further investigated in the AA model. Taken together, the findings of this study demonstrated profound therapeutic effects of extract of Fagopyrum cymosum on AA. It directs towards the control of arthritis progression and prevents synovial proliferation, cartilage and bone destruction of the arthritic joints of AA rats. In addition, EFC changes the hemorheological disorders and reduces the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1and TNF-a).2. The most effective extracts were identified in the in AA model. Taken together, all of these data demonstrated that EFC2(the Fagopyrum cymosum extracted from chloroform) posses anti-arthritic activities and may support the fact the traditional application of this herb in treating various diseases associated with RA.3. In order to explore the anti-RA mechanism of EFC2, the balance of Th1/Th2in AA rats with the treatment of EFC2was examined. EFC2significantly reduced secondary lesions in AA rats, inhibited pannus formation, and delayed synovial proliferation and cartilage destruction. The effect may be related to decrease level of IFN-γ and increased level of IL-4in the serum, which in turn correct the imbalance of Th1/Th2and enhance cellular immune function.4. The acetic acid-induced writhing response and hot plate pain model in mice were used to evaluate the analgesic effect of EFC. EFC had good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, likely due to the reduced the level of prostaglandin E in local inflammatory tissue.