Ameliorative effects of green tea seed extract with rose hip powder (Rosa canina L.) on regulation of pain and inflammatory cytokines in a rat model of monosodium iodoacetate-induced experimental osteoarthritis

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the relationship between anti-inflammatory mechanisms and the combined ameliorating effects of rose hip powder (RHP) and green tea seed extract (GTSE) in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis (OA) animal model. We confirmed the individual effects of RHP (500 mg/kg bw) and GTSE (50 mg/kg bw) in the OA model. Treatment with the mixture of RHP and GTSE (Mix) resulted in significantly enhanced stance and propulsion times compared to treatment with RHP or GTSE alone. To examine the combined effects of RHP and GTSE in vivo, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were measured. The administration of Mix significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expressions were attenuated to a greater extent after the administration of Mix compared to the other treatments. Furthermore, we evaluated the anti-osteoarthritic effects of RHP, GTSE, and Mix on articular cartilage damage using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) in OA in rats. After three weeks of treatment, we observed that the administration of RHP, GTSE, and Mix protected against bone destruction and reduced the number of erosion lacunae, but there was no statistical difference among RHP, GTSE, and Mix. Although additional research is warranted, our results suggest that the biological effects of GTSE were enhanced by RHP supplementation to include anti-inflammatory effects, with the potential ability of offering a benefit to OA patients.