Objective: To compare the effects of Atractylodes lancea from different producing area on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats.
Method: Wistar rats were induced by type II bovine collagen. CIA rats were treated daily with oral administration of A. lancea from the geo-authentic and non-authentic producing area of Maoshan, Jiangsu province, and non-geo-authentic and non-authentic producing areas of Yingshan, Hubei province and Huayin, Shanxi province from day 7 after the day of the first immunization to day 35. Clinical symptoms as well as clinical scores and incidence were observed. All rats were sacrificed on day 35 after immunization to observe histopathologic and radiologic changes. Antibody to type II collagen in sera was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in sera and article-homogenated supernants by radiommunoassay, and inflammatory mediator of PGE2 in sera using ELISA.
Result: A. lancea from Jiangsu province can ameliorate clinical symptom, reduce arthritis index and arthropathy of inflammatory joints, inhibit the production of IgG and IgM in sera, directly suppress the production of exogenous and endogenous cytokines of IL-1beta, TNFalpha and IL-6 and PGE2. A. lances from Hubei and Shanxi provinces can inhibit the production of IgM in sera, and A. lanceas from Hubei province also depress the production of IL-1beta in sera and IL-6 in supernants.
Conclusion: A. lancea from Jiangsu province is effective in CIA rats through inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the inflammatory mediators.