Effects Of Panax Notoginseng Saponins On Articular Cartilage In A Rabbit Model Of Osteoarthritis

Objective:The aim of this study is to evaluate the proliferative effect of Panax notoginseng saponins(PNS) on Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) based on cell cultures,and whether PNS have a chondroprotective effect based on osteoarthritis(OA) animal models.Methods:1.In vitro experiment:Bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs) were extracted and cultured to the third generation. Cells were incubated in96-well plates and mediated with PNS. All the cells were divided into three groups:control group, lower concentration of PNS group, higher concentration of PNS group. The proliferative effect of these compounds was tested by the MTT assay in vitro.2. In vivo experiment:Experimental OA models were induced in21female Newzealand white rabbits by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), which were randomly divided into three groups, each group with7rabbits. All the rabbits received intra-articular injection twice a week two weeks after the operation in a dose of0.1ml per kilo weight.Group A and B were injected with PNS of high concentration and low concentration,respectively. Group C were injected with normal saline and served as control group. Rabbits were sacrificed seven weeks after ACLT for macroscopic assessment of the knee joints. Osteophytes and joint structures were measured by X ray and CT. The knee joints were harvested and the femur condyles were stained by India ink. The gross morphological changes in the cartilage were evaluated as4grades.Results:Based on statistical analysis,PNS can significantly improve the proliferation of BMSCs(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in vivo(P>0.05) by India ink classification.Conclusion:These findings suggest that PNS can significantly improve the proliferation of BMSCs, and appear to be a candidate agent in improving stem cell-based therapy for OA, while have no protective effect on cartilage during early stage of OA.Further studies will be required to invesgate the administration,dosage and concentration of PNS,with the ultimate purpose of illuminating the mechamism of the therapeutic effect of PNS and optimizing the indications for treatment.