| Fengshiqutong capsules compound formulation consists of Phellodendron, herb, Clematis and other 19 Chinese herbal medicines, with dampness dispelling, blood circulation, pain network functions. In order to improve the yield of extraction of herbs, dose reduction, to reduce costs, the pharmaceutical company has improved the process of this capsule, for evaluating the efficacy of Fengshiqutong capsule of new process, this study, through the establishment of various models of inflammation and pain, study the protective effects of rheumatoid arthritis, and the use of adjuvant arthritis rat model to explore the mechanism for the development of new process to and providing experimental evidence for it. 1 Study of anti-inflammatory effects 1.1 Carrageenin-induced rats paw swelling experimentMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: model group, NP 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 g/kg groups, OP 0.5 g/kg group and positive group. Rats were orally administrated with drugs for 7 consecutive days. On the 7th day, after onset of right hind paw swelling by 1% carrageenin suspension, swelling degrees were measured before injection and every an hour from 1h to 6h after injection.Results showed that compared with model group, NP 0.5, 1.0 g/kg and OP 0.5 g/kg could significantly inhibit carrageenin-induced paw swelling, while NP 0.25 g/kg did not show any significant effects on the swelling degree. 1.2 The permeability of the blood capillary in abdominal cavity experimentFemale ICR mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, NP 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 g/kg groups, OP 0.6 g.kg group and positive group. Mice were orally administrated with drugs for 7 consecutive days. On the 7th day, Evan’s blue was intravenously injected, and acetic acid solution was injected intraperitoneally at the same time.Results showed that all doses drug could not decrease the content of Evan’s blue in abdominal cavity, which showed that both NP and OP had no remarkable effects on the permeability of the blood capillary in abdominal cavity of mice. 1.3 Cotton pellet-induced formation of granuloma experimentMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: model group, NP 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 g/kg groups, OP 0.5 g/kg group and positive group. After planting cotton balls in inguinal, drugs were given to the rats for 7 consecutive days. On the 8th day, granuloma and cotton balls were obtained for the calculation of granuloma index, as well as the organ index including thymus, adrenal glands and spleens.Results showed that compared with the model group, NP 0.5, 1.0 g/kg and OP 0.5 g/kg, could significantly inhibit granuloma index in rats, while NP 0.25 g/kg showed no significance. Moreover, there were no significant effects of all doses drugs on the thymus index, spleen index and adrenal gland index. 2 Study of the analgesic activity 2.1 Writhing experimentFemale ICR mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, NP 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 g/kg groups, OP 0.6 g.kg group and positive group. After drugs administration for 7 consecutive days, experimental model acetic acid-induced writhing in mice was established to evaluate its analgesic activity, times of mice writhing and latent period were recorded.Results showed that, NP 0.6, 1.2 g/kg and OP 0.6 g/kg all had notable effects on alleviating acetic acid-induced pain, while NP 0.3 g/kg showed no significance. Apart from NP 1.2 g/kg, other drug groups showed no remarkable effects on extending the delitescence. 2.2 Hot-plate experimentFemale ICR mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, NP 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 g/kg groups, OP 0.6 g.kg group and positive group. Pain threshold was recorded before drug administration and every an hour from 1h to 6h after drug administration respectively to calculate the improvement rate of pain threshold in mice.Results showed that NP 1.2 g/kg and OP 0.6 g/kg could remarkably improve the pain threshold at 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h and 6h; NP 0.6 g/kg could improve the pain threshold at 3h, 4h, 5h and 6h noticeably; While NP 0.3 g/kg showed no significant effects on pain threshold at any time window; All doses showed no significance on pain threshold at 1h. 3 Therapeutic effects on Adjuvant Arthritis rats and its mechanismMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups: normal group, model group, NP 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 g/kg groups, OP 0.5 g/kg group and positive group. Establishment of AA model and drug administration: Adjuvant arthritis was induced by FCA in all groups except normal group. After the onset of AA, rats were orally administrated with drugs once a day for 21 consecutive days from the 2nd day of the injection. The primarily swelling in right hind paw and the secondary swelling in left hind paw were examined. On the 24 th day after injection, the following indexes were examined: Examination of peritoneal macrophages phagocytic function: At the end of the experiment, all rats were anaesthetized and peritoneal fluid samples were obtained for the examination of macrophages phagocytic function after a series of processes like cell culture, staining and incubation of macrophages by using the microplate reader; Blood samples were obtained for detection of the hematocrit and erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Right hind paws were removed and immersed into the common saline for a further examination of PGE2 content in the inflammatory tissue fluid; Detection of biochemical indexes: Serum of the blood samples were obtained for the detection of the activity of SOD and the contents of MDA, NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 by using commercial kits.Results showed that, swelling rate of both hind paws were significantly relieved in both OP and NP groups; Arthritis symptoms were dramatically attenuated and the phagocytic function of macrophages, the hematocrit and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were remarkably declined; SOD activity was increased while the contents of MDA, NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 in serum were significantly decreased, and the content of PGE2 in inflammatory tissue fluid was also decreased by Fengshiqutong Capsule.Conclusion: Fengshiqutong Capsule of new process has anti-inflammatory effect, analgesic activity and shows therapeutic effects on AA rats, these beneficial efficacies may relate to its inhibiting effects on macrophages activation, enhancing capability of scavenging free radicals, declining levels of inflammatory elements, and improving hemorheological changes. In comparison with OP, the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-RA effects of the same dose of NP has improved but not to a significant degree. |
PDF Full Text Request