Abstract
Objectives. This study aimed to identify the active compounds in Oldenlandia diffusa (OD) decoction and the compounds absorbed into plasma, and to determine whether the absorbed compounds derived from OD exerted any anti-inflammatory effects in rats with collagen induced arthritis (CIA). Methods. The UPLC-PDA (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Photo-Diode Array) method was applied to identify the active compounds both in the decoction and rat plasma. The absorbable compound was administered to the CIA rats, and the effects were dynamically observed. X-ray films of the joints and HE stain of synovial tissues were analyzed. The levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the rats from each group were measured by means of ELISA. The absorbed compound in the plasma of CIA rats was identified as ferulic acid (FA), following OD decoction administration. Two weeks after the administration of FA solution or OD decoction, the general conditions improved compared to the model group. The anti-inflammatory effect of FA was inferior to that of the OD decoction (P < 0.05), based on a comparison of IL-1β TNF-α levels. FA from the OD decoction was absorbed into the body of CIA rats, where it elicited anti-inflammatory responses in rats with CIA. Conclusions. These results suggest that FA is the bioactive compound in OD decoction, and FA exerts its effects through anti-inflammatory pathways.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous systemic autoimmune disease with the main clinical manifestation of symmetrical panarthritis
Our study has only demonstrated that ferulic acid (FA) was one of the bioactive compounds in Oldenlandia diffusa (OD), previous research has indicated that ursolic acid extracted from OD has a suppressive effect on rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting paw swelling and plasma PGE(2) production [28]
All of the above results may be related to the antiinflammatory effects of FA contained in OD
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous systemic autoimmune disease with the main clinical manifestation of symmetrical panarthritis. Consistent with the role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of RA, the treatment of RA has largely focused on these cytokines, with the development of biological agents targeting inflammatory cytokines such as TNF [4]. Bizhongxiao decoction (BZXD), an empirical formula based on long-term RA treatment in our ward, has been shown to be very effective [5]. Chinese traditional medicine could be more effective due to its multitarget approach [5]. This formula was formed by combining several Chinese traditional herbs, including Oldenlandia diffusa [6]. BZXD appears to have a positive effect on RA patients by inhibiting joint bone destruction
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