Topical Application of Wogonin Provides a Novel Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by joint pain, decreased functional mobility, and deformation of articular cartilage and consequentially diminishing quality of life. Wogonin (WG), a compound extracted from the Skullcap Baicalensis plant, has been shown to have anti‐inflammatory effects on the Toll‐like Receptor 4 (TLR‐4) inflammatory pathway and antioxidant properties via Nrf2. We have shown that TLR‐4 is a major receptor for pain in OA. In our study, we examined the pain reducing, anti‐inflammatory, and chondroprotective effects of WG when applied as a topical cream (TC). After destabilizing the menisci of mice to induce OA, we examined the severity and progression of OA with and without the topical application of WG. Using a running wheel to track mice activity, we found that mice with WG treatment were statistically more active than mice without WG treatment. OA progression analyzed using Modified Mankin and OARSI scoring showed a significant attenuation of OA severity among mice treated with WG. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant decrease in protein expression of TGF‐β1, but no significant differences were found among the biomarkers HTRA1, MMP‐13, or BMP‐2, suggesting an alternative pathway of cartilage rescue. Support or Funding Information BYU Office of Research and Creative Works This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Nutraceutical Activity in Osteoarthritis Biology: A Focus on the Nutrigenomic Role

“…Moreover, it seems that wogonin prevents DNA denaturation, thus contributing to genomic DNA stability [139]. Considering this evidence, the topical application of this nutraceutical was very recently tested in a mouse DMM model of knee OA [140]. The results showed that a modest dose of wogonin in a topical cream improved joint health as shown by significantly decreased pathological scores (cyst-like lesions (CLLs), Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), and Mankin scores).…”

Potential Therapeutic Mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi against Ankylosing Spondylitis Based on a Comprehensive Pharmacological Model

“…Baicalein orchestrates the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway and suppresses the production of cyclooxygenase, deoxygenase, nuclear factors, and cytokines, thereby exhibiting a potent antipyretic and analgesic effect [30]. Wogonin performs various biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic functions [31,32], Figure 6: Bar plot of GO analysis. The top 10 GO entries for biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions were selected (P < 0:05).…”

“…Baicalein orchestrates the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway and suppresses the production of cyclooxygenase, deoxygenase, nuclear factors, and cytokines, thereby exhibiting a potent antipyretic and analgesic effect [ 30 ]. Wogonin performs various biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic functions [ 31 , 32 ], and its anti-inflammatory activity may be associated with a reduction in iNOS and COX-2 expression [ 33 ]. Oroxylin A also has anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects.…”

The Use of Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) and Its Extracts for Sustainable Animal Production

“…S. baicalensis and its extracts have a strong anti-inflammatory function, participate in the regulation of a variety of inflammatory factors, and also have cartilage protection effects [ 52 ]. Baicalin and baicalein treat skin diseases by regulating enzymes and pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin-6, oxygenase-1, TNF-α, and cell adhesion factors [ 33 , 46 , 53 ].…”