Anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoarthritis effect of Mollugo pentaphylla extract

Abstract

Context: Mollugo pentaphylla L. (Molluginaceae) extract (MPE) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effect on MSU-induced gouty arthritis in a mouse model.

Objective: This study examined the anti-inflammatory activities of an MPE in vitro and anti-osteoarthritis effects on monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis (OA) in vivo.

Materials and methods: The dried whole plants of M. pentaphylla were extracted with 70% ethanol under reflux. The anti-inflammatory effect of MPE was evaluated in vitro in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells. The anti-osteoarthritic effect of MPE was investigated in a Sprague–Dawley rat model of MIA-induced OA. Each seven male rats were orally administered MPE (75, 150 or 300 mg/kg) or the positive control drug indomethacin (1 mg/kg) 3 days before MIA injection and once daily for 11 days thereafter. After the treatment with MPE, no evidence of systemic adverse effects was observed in any study group.

Results: MPE exhibited anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of the production of NO (57.8%), PGE2 (97.1%) and IL-6 (93.2%) in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells at 200 μg/mL. In addition, MPE suppressed IL-1β (60.9%), TNF-α (37.9%) and IL- 6 (40.9%) production and suppressed the synthesis of MMP-2, MMP-9 and COX-2 in the MIA-induced OA rat model.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that MPE exerts potent anti-inflammatory activities and protects cartilage in an OA rat model. This might be a potential candidate for therapeutic OA treatment.

Keywords:

• Osteoarthritis
• inflammation
• pain
• cartilage

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all colleagues who contributed to this study.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (K18030).