Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of <i>Aucklandia lappa</i> Root Extracts on Acetic Acid-Induced Writhing in Mice and Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis in Rats

• Main Authors: Hee-Geun Jo, Geon-Yeong Lee, Chae Yun Baek, Ho Sueb Song, Donghun Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: osteoarthritis; Aucklandia lappa; analgesic; anti-inflammatory; MIA rats
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/42

<b> </b>Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related joint disease and one of the most common degenerative bone diseases among elderly people. The currently used therapeutic strategies relying on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids for OA are often associated with gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and kidney disorders, despite being proven effective.<i> Aucklandia lappa</i> is a well-known traditional medicine. The root of <i>A. lappa </i>root has several bioactive compounds and has been in use as a natural remedy for bone diseases and other health conditions. We evaluated <i>the A. lappa</i> root extracts on OA progression as a natural therapeutic agent. <i>A. lappa</i> substantially reduced writhing numbers in mice induced with acetic acid. Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) was injected into the rats through their knee joints of rats to induce experimental OA, which shows similar pathological characteristics to OA in human<i>. A. lappa</i> substantially reduced the MIA-induced weight-bearing of hind limb and reversed the cartilage erosion in MIA rats. IL-1β, a representative inflammatory mediator in OA, was also markedly decreased by <i>A. lappa</i> in the serum of MIA rats. In vitro, A. lappa lowered the secretion of NO and suppressed the IL-1β, COX-2, IL-6, and iNOS production in RAW264.7 macrophages activated with LPS. Based on its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, A. lappa could be a potential remedial agent against OA.