Effects and mechanisms of Cryptotanshinone on rats with adjuvant arthritis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cryptotanshinone (CT) is the major active constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of CT on rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA).

METHODS:

AA was induced by the metatarsal footpad injection with complete Freund's adjuvant in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The secondary inflammatory reaction was evaluated by hind paw swelling and the polyarthritis index. Activity of interleukin-1 (IL-1) was detected by the concanavalin A-induced thymocytes proliferation assay. The lymphocytes proliferation and IL-2 production were assayed by 3-(4,5-2dimethylthiazal-2yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and activated mouse splenocytes proliferation, respectively.

RESULTS:

Intragastric administration of CT (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased secondary inflammatory reactions and increased the spleen and thymus index. There was a marked immunologic and inflammatory response in the AA model, which was accompanied by the decrease of thymocyte proliferation and IL-2 production as well as the increase of IL-1 production. CT apparently enhanced thymocyte proliferation and decreased IL-1 production in AA rats.

CONCLUSION:

These results indicate that CT may exert its anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects through inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation and production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

• Authors: Fu-Lin Zheng, Yan Chang, Xiao-Yi Jia, Min Huang, Wei Wei
• Journal: Chinese medical journal (Chin Med J (Engl)) Vol. 124 Issue 24 Pg. 4293-8 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 2542-5641 [Electronic] China
• PMID: 22340402 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-1
• Interleukin-2
• Phenanthrenes
• cryptotanshinone

Topics

• Animals
• Arthritis, Experimental (drug therapy, immunology, metabolism)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Interleukin-1 (metabolism)
• Interleukin-2 (metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Phenanthrenes (therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Thymocytes (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)