Examining the Effects of the Oral Supplement Biota orientalis in the Osteochondral Fragment-Exercise Model of Osteoarthritis in the Horse

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common problem in horses. Several oral supplements have been proposed as treatments for horses with OA. The object of this study was to evaluate the use of the oil extract from the seeds of Biota orientalis (BO) for the treatment of experimentally induced OA in horses. OA was induced in 16, 2–5 year old horses in one middle carpal joint on Day 0; the other limb underwent a sham operation. Once daily oral treatment with BO or placebo was initiated on Day 0 and continued to Day 70. All horses were exercised 5 days a week starting on Day 14 through Day 70. The horses were evaluated every other week for lameness and serum GAG concentration as well as weekly synovial fluid assessment. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on Day 7 and 70. Radiographic changes were assessed on Day 0, 14, and 70. On Day 70 tissue from the middle carpal joint was assessed macroscopically and histologically. All outcome parameters were compared between treatment groups to identify effects of treatment. Compared to placebo a significant decrease was found in synovial fluid prostaglandin E2 concentration and white blood cell counts in horses treated with BO. There was a significant reduction in radiographic scores for subchondral lysis of the radial carpal bone, osteophyte formation, subchondral sclerosis of the radial carpal bone, and total radiographic score for the horses treated with BO. There was no significant difference between treatment groups in clinical lameness findings, MRI findings, macroscopic grading or histologic grading. This study suggests a significant anti-inflammatory effect from oral BO that should be further investigated in clinical OA.

The Biota orientalis, oil extract Epiitalis®, is efficacious at reducing the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis: a pilot, multi-site, dose-ranging, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial

“…The primary purpose of this pilot study was to understand if the clinical safety and efficacy of hBO previously demonstrated in veterinary species (Beths et al 2020 ; Pearson et al 2009 ; Pearson et al 2012 ; Seabaugh et al 2022 ; Whittem et al 2021 ) would translate into decreased knee pain in a human population with X-ray diagnosed knee OA. Because of uncertainties in translating doses from animals to humans, we explored the safety and efficacy of three different doses of hBO.…”

“…Although efficacy vs. joint function and/or pain has now been demonstrated in OA trials in both canines (Beths et al 2020 ; Whittem et al 2021 ) and humans, neither the identity of the active species in hBO, nor the mechanism of action of hBO are clear. In both in vitro (Pearson et al 2008 ) and in vivo (Pearson et al 2009 ; Pearson et al 2012 ; Seabaugh et al 2022 ) studies, there is evidence of reductions in PGE2 after treatment with hBO. The relatively slow onset of clinical efficacy vs. joint pain is consistent with a mechanism in which membrane proinflammatory lipid precursors are cumulatively replaced with lipids that either replace proinflammatory lipid substrates, or which act via alternate mechanisms (e.g., inhibition of MAPKs) to reduce the inflammatory response (Chen et al 2015 , 2012 ).…”

“…Finally, there is also evidence that other mechanisms may be playing a role in the pharmacology of hBO that is of relevance to OA. In in vitro cartilage explants studies, hBO increased chondrocyte number (Pearson et al 2008 ) while in a pilot equine model of surgically induced joint degeneration, hBO almost completely inhibited X-ray measured bone changes, including osteophyte growth (Seabaugh et al 2022 ). It is unclear whether these activities on chondrocytes and/or bone are contributing to the observed clinical efficacy of hBO vs. joint pain and function, and whether longer term the intervention might lead to disease modifying activity.…”

“…In both canine clinical OA studies, the efficacy of hBO had a relatively slow onset, reaching a maximum at study termination (one month). Finally, in a pilot 70-day equine model of surgically induced OA, hBO significantly reduced synovial fluid PGE2 concentration and white blood cell number, as well as significantly reduced the progression of X-ray measured joint scores (Seabaugh et al 2022 ). (Note: this reference was updated as it is now a published paper.…”

“…(Note: this reference was updated as it is now a published paper. In the text the reference should read Seabaugh et al 2022 )…”