Anti-arthritic effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on collagen induced arthritis in mice

Abstract

Background: The development of orally bioavailable, inexpensive inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is desirable for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objective: To show the efficacy of ginsenoside Rb l (G-Rb l), a ginseng extract, on the inhibition of TNF-alpha upregulation and on the inhibition of collagen induced arthritis (CIA). Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), chondrocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were stimulated with interferon (IFN)-gamma, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin- l in the presence or absence of G-Rbl. The concentrations of (TNF)-a in the culture supernatants were determined by ELISA. CIA was induced in DBA/1J mice and G-Rblwas prophylactically administered from day 20 until day 39 following immunization. Histopathologic changes were scored, and the expression of TNF-alpha was evaluated by immumohistochemistry. Result: G-Rbl significantly inhibited TNF-alpha upregulation in PBMCs, FLS and chondrocytes induced by IFN-gamma, LPS or IL-1. Administration of G-Rbl resulted in a significant amelioration of the clinical arthritis score in the CIA mice. Histology revealed that G-Rbl reduced cell infiltration and cartilage destruction in the arthritic joint, which was accompanied by a significant decrease in TNF-alpha expression. Conclusion: The utilization of G-RbI is a feasible approach to the treatment of RA or other diseases characterized by upregulation of TNF-alpha. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.