Objective: To explore the effect of Xuanfa Moyuan principle ([symbol: see text], XFMYP) on arthritic mice.
Methods: The type II collagen induced arthritis in DBA mice was taken as Bizheng ([symbol: see text]) animal model. The Dayuanyin ([symbol: see text], DYY) was taken as the representative prescription for XFMYP. The arthritis incidence and arthritis index were tested by scoring system. The anti-C II antibody IgG and its subsets, IgM rheumatoid factor, interferon gamma and interleukin 10 produced by lymph node cells were tested by ELISA method.
Results: XFMYP could delay the onset day of arthritis, decrease the arthritic incidence and index, decrease anti-II IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG1 level and the IgG2a + IgG2b/IgG1 ratio in serum, decrease the production of interferon gamma by lymphocytes and increase the production of interleukin 10.
Conclusions: XFMYP could inhibit the anti-C II immune response, and balance the anti-C II Th1 and Th2 type immune responses.