Anti-osteoarthritic effects of a combination of pomegranate concentrate powder, Eucommiae cortex and Achyranthis radix in rats

Abstract

We examined the effects of a mixed formula consisting of dried pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) and the aqueous extracts of Eucommiae cortex (EC) and Achyranthis radix (AR) in rats with surgically induced osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Two weeks after OA-inducing surgery, a PCP:EC:AR 5:4:1 (g/g) combination or single formula was orally administered. Changes in body weight, knee thickness, maximum knee extension angle, bone mineral density of the knee joints, femoral and tibial articular surfaces, and compressive strength of the femoral and tibial articular cartilage (AC) were assessed, along with the prostaglandin E2 level, 5-lipoxygenase, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activity, and chondrogenic gene mRNA expression in the femoral and tibial AC with the synovial membrane (SM). In addition, the number of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, cyclooxygenase and tumor necrosis factor-α-immunoreactive cells in the femoral and tibial AC with SM were monitored, and the rate of cell proliferation was determined with a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine uptake assay. Results : The signs of surgically induced OA in rats were significantly inhibited by both PCP, EC and AR combined and single formulas. In particular, the combination formula-treated OA model rats showed dose-dependent, significantly increased inhibitory activity against all tested criteria compared with single formula-treated rats. Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that the combination formula synergistically increased the anti-OA effects of its components through anti-inflammatory and chondrogenic activity in rats with surgically induced OA. In addition, 200, 100 and 50 mg/kg combination formula treatments showed dose-dependent inhibitory activity against all of the tested criteria.

Systematic review of the effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) on osteoarthritis

“…Other studies in surgically-induced OA rats reported that 200 mg/kg BW pomegranate concentrated powder for 58 and 28 days significantly decreased articular cartilage in femoral and tibial areas with synovial membrane prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, 5-lipoxygenase (LPO) function of articular cartilage in femoral and tibial areas with synovial membrane, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities of femoral and tibial articular cartilage with synovial membrane, and mRNA expression of synovial membrane collagen type-II in comparison with arthritic controls. 29,30 Moreover, considerable elevation was observed in femoral and tibial articular cartilage collagen type-II mRNA expression as well as mRNA expression of Sox-9 and aggrecan in femoral and tibial articular cartilage with synovial membrane in comparison with arthritic control group. 29,30 In another research in surgically-induced OA rabbits, Akhtar et al 31 stated that 34 mg/kg BW pomegranate fruit extract in water for 56 and 70 days significantly decreased expression of MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-13 and level of PGE2 in the synovial fluid compared with arthritic control rabbits.…”

“…14 Also, animal 19,20 and human 21,22 researches did not indicate any undesirable outcomes after pomegranate intake. Experimental studies [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] and clinical trials [40][41][42][43][44] investigated the beneficial properties of pomegranate in OA prevention and treatment. Nevertheless, no systematic review exists regarding pomegranate and OA; therefore, in present article, we systematically studied accessible researches regarding pomegranate and OA in human, animal, and in vitro models and likely mechanistic pathways.…”

Anti-Osteoarthritic Effects of a Mixture of Dried Pomegranate Concentrate Powder, Eucommiae Cortex, and Achyranthis Radix 5:4:1 (g/g) in a Surgically Induced Osteoarthritic Rabbit Model

“…The anti-OA effects of PCP:EC:AR were similar to those seen in rat and mouse models of OA; thus, PCP:EC:AR effectively relieves OA symptoms in various animal models. The PCP:EC:AR formula used herein was informed by our previous in vitro [54,64] and in vivo [55,65] experiments on OA rats.…”

“…A.Ş., Ankara, Turkey) contained 1.15 mg/g ellagic acid, EC contained 1.58 mg/g pinoresinol diglucoside, and AR contained 0.26 mg/g ecdysterone as active components, respectively (Health Love Ltd., Anyang, Korea). PCP:EC:AR doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg represented the high-, medium-, and low-dose conditions, respectively, as in our previous study on dose-dependent efficacy in a surgically induced OA rat model [55]. The PCP:EC:AR mixed formula (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was administered orally (once a day for 56 days, beginning 5 weeks after OA surgery) in a volume of 5 mL/kg distilled water using a gastric tube attached to a 20 mL syringe.…”

Effects of Pomegranate Concentrate Powder: Eucommiae Cortex: Achyranthis Radix 5:4:1 (w/w) Mixed Formula on Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis in Rats

“…In rats with ACLT OA, the anti-inflammatory and chondrogenic activities of PEA-Mix synergistically enhanced the anti-OA effect of PCP, EC, and AR. 28 However, ACLT OA does not accurately reflect the pathogenesis of OA. MIA causes inflammation and joint destruction, while ACLT directly induces joint destruction and then synovial inflammation; both mimic OA.…”