Experimental And Clinical Study Of Bushenzhuanggu Capsule In The Treatment Of Osteoarthritis Of Knee Joint

Objective: To observe the efficacy of Bushenzhuanggu Capsule(BSZGC) for treatment of knee osteoarthritis(KOA), and explore the mechanism in the effect of BSZGC and the mechanism of KOA.Methods: In the experiment study, 30 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups:Group A(the normal group), Group B(the model group), Group C(the control group) and Group D(the treated group). KOA models were created in Group B, C and D by Hulth's operation methods. The rabbits in Group C were treated with Zhuangguguanjie pill (ZGGJP) and BSZGC was used in Group D.8 weeks later, to make CR of the knee, and determine the content of Nitric Oxide (NO) in serum and joint fluids. Then to kill the rabbits and get the femoral condyle for electron microscope study, And in the same time to give the carilage and synovium tissue even slurry iNOS determining. In th clinical study BSZGC was used in 30 cases of KOA as the control group compared with 30 cases treated by ZGGJP for curative effect observation.Results: The experiment study showed in group B the degeneration of articular cartilage and the inflammation of synovium occurred in the knee joints of the rabbits, the contents of NO were apparently higher in the joint fluids, the contents of iNOS were higher delivered in cartilage and synovium tissues. The surface of cartilage was rough and chap , and bared with fibrin. The pathology change of the control group and the treated group were among the normal group and the model group. The change of NO in joint fluids had significant difference in the treated group and the control group (P<0. 05) . The change of iNOS in the cartilage and synovium tissues had significant difference in the treated group and the control group (P<0. 05). In the clinical study the effective rate, the change of scores in symptoms, and the disappearance rate on pain were all superior to those in the control group.Conclusions: NO may play important roles in the developing process of KOA; The expression of iNOS is the direct reason for the hige level of NO in local joint. The main pathological changes in KOA include degeneration of articular cartilage cells, inhibition on anabolism and enhancement on catabolism of cartilage matrix, and type-transformation chondral collagenous fibers. Because BSZGC can decrease the content of iNOS and NO in the joint cartilage, inhibit the catabolism of it, slow down the type-transformation chondral collagenous fibers and alleviate the inflammation of synovium, it can improve the symptoms of KOA effectively and promote the repair of knee joint.