• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.183-199
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• 2010

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the focal loss of cartilage due to an up-regulation of inflammatory pathways, which produce inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1beta(IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha(TNF-$\alpha$), prostaglandin, and nitric oxide(NO). We investigated the anti-arthritic effects of water extract from FLOS LONICERAE(FLWE) in vitro and in vivo. Extract inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators(NO, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-$\alpha$, and prostaglandin $E_2$) and the expression of inducible NO synthase(iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. FLWE also inhibited TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $PGE_2$ production as well as COX activity in collagen-induced mouse arthritis. Moreover, FLWE significantly suppressed collagen-induced mouse arthritis. These results suggest that FLOS LONICERAE may be useful for therapy against inflammatory immune diseases and rheumatoid arthritis, probably by suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.200-213
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was purposed to investigate the Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Gold injection Aqua-acupuncture on the experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : The experimental groups were divided into 4 groups : Control group (group injected with normal saline), J-NS (group injected with normal saline into bilateral Choksamni(ST36)), J-GS (group injected with Gold Injection into bilateral Choksamni(ST36)), and N-GS (injected with Gold Injection into the blank locus of the root of mouse tail). In addition, Diclofenac-Na as a comparative medicine is injected into bilateral Choksamni(ST36) and the blank locus of the root of mouse tail. So we measured the mice paw edema induced by Carrageenin and Dextran, the chronic rat paw edema induced by adjuvant, vascular permeability induced by Acetic acid in mice, the writhing syndrome induced by Acetic acid in mice, the heat-induced pain threshold in mice. Results : The following result have been obtained. 1. The mice paw edema induced by Carrageenin was significantly decreased in J-GS as compared with the control group. 2. The mice paw edema induced by Dextran was significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. 3. The chronic rat paw edema induced by Adjuvant was significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. Serum Iron content was significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. But the effect on the Serum Copper contents has no significance statistically. 4. Vascular permeability induced by Acetic acid in mice was significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. 5. The level of Acetic acid-induced Writhing syndrome and Heat-induced Pain Threshold in mice were all significantly decreased in J-GS and N-GS as compared with the control group. Conclusion : According to the result, gold injection aqua-acupuncture has significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the experimental model of rheumatiod arthiritis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.99-111
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• 2009

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by focal loss of cartilage due to an up-regulation of inflammatory pathways, which produce pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1(IL-1), tumour necrosis factor alpha($TNF-\alpha$), prostaglantin, and nitric oxide(NO). We investigated the anti-arthritic effects of water extracts from Pellodendri cortex and Atractylodis rhizoma in vitro and in vivo. Each extract suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators(NO, $IL-1\beta$, $TNF-\alpha$, and prostaglandin $E_2$) and the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. These suppressive effects were synergistically increased by their combination. The same results were also observed in the rat osteoblast sarcoma cell line ROS17/2.8 stimulated with $IL-1\beta$, $IFN-\gamma,$ and $TNF-\alpha$. Moreover, the combination of these water extracts significantly suppressed collagen-induced mouse arthritis. These results suggest that the combination of water-extractable components of Pellodendri cortex and Atractylodis rhizoma may be useful for therapeutic drugs against rheumatoid arthritis, probably by suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.210-224
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• 2019

Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe autoimmune disorder, related to joints. It is associated with serious cartilage destruction. This causes disability and reduces the excellence of life. Numerous treatments are existed to combat this disease, however, they are not very efficient and possess severe side effects, higher doses, and frequent administration. Therefore, newer therapies are developed to overcome all these limitations. These include different monoclonal antibodies, immunoglobulins, small molecules used for immunotherapy and transgenes for gene therapy. One of the main goals of these new generation therapeutics is to address the underlying distressing biological processes by specifically targeting the causative agents with fewer systemic side effects and greater patient console. It is very fortuitous that loads of progressive investigations are going on in this field and many of them have entered into the successful clinical trial. But till date, a limited molecule has got FDA clearance and entered the market for treating this devastating disease. This review highlights the overview of conventional therapy and advancements in newer therapeutics including immunotherapy and gene therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Further, different novel techniques for the delivery of these therapeutics of active and passive targeting are also described.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.33-49
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was designed to elucidate the anti-pathogenetic and curative effects of Gyehyeoldeungbokhap-bang(Jixietengfuge-fang, GCP) on Type II collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) in mice. Methods : In experiment, twenty four mices were divided into non-treated normal group(n=6), bovine type II collagen-induced control group(n=6), collagen immunized and treated two group medicated with extract of GCP(concentration of extraction: 200 mg/kg n=6, 400 mg/kg n=6) for 4 weeks after collagen immunization, Various experimental such as arthritis, incidence, index, total cell number of spleen, total cell number of peripheral lymph node(PLN), paw joint total cell number, analysis on the percentage of immunofluorescent cells of spleen in CIA induced mice, effects of inflammatory gene expression in spleen, PLN and paw joint of CIA mice, production of cytokine(IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6), analysis of rheumatoid factor(anti-collagen lgG, lgM level in serum) and histopathological study on the paw joint. The arthritis index, incidence were measured a week over 4 weeks after second boosting. Total cell number of spleen, peripheral lymph node, paw joint were measure after performed experiment over 7 weeks. Concentration of cytokine and rheumatoid factor in serum were measured after experiment finished. Histopathological study on the paw joint was measured after 40 days medicated with extract of GCP. Results : 1. Incidence of arthritis and index of arthritis were significantly decreased in treated group with 400 mg/kg. 2. Total cell number of spleen, PLN and paw joint were significantly decreased in treated group. 3. Analysis on the percentage of immunofluorescent cells of spleen in CIA induced mice were significantly controled compare with control group. 4. Effects of inflammatory gene expression in spleen, PLN and paw joint of CIA induced mice were significantly controled compare with control group. 5. IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, concentration($pg/m{\ell}$) in serum of treated group was significantly decreased compare with control group. But IL-4 was significantly increased. 6. lgM and lgG concentration($pg/m{\ell}$) in serum of treated group was significantly decreased compare with control group. 7. Histopathologically, suppurative and destructive lesion of synovial membrane, articular cartilage and subchondral bony tissue in treated group were alleviated compare with those of control group. Conclusions : Based on the results described above, it might be consider that Gyehyeoldeungbokhap-bang(Jixietengfuge-fang, GCP) has antiarthritic and analgesic effects and also inhibitory effects on the progression of collagen-induced arthritis mice.