• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.23-37
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• 2013

Objectives This study was performed to investigate the effects of Saengkanggamchotang (SKT) on the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) induced osteoarthritis in rats. Methods Osteoarthritis was induced by injection of MIA (50 ul, 60 mg/ml) into knee joints of rats. Rats are divided into a total of 4 groups (normal, control, positive comparison group, SKT treated group, each n=6). Normal group are not treated at all without inducing osteoarthritis whereas control group were induced for osteoarthritis by MIA and oral medicated with 20 ml of distilled water per day. Positive comparison group was injected with MIA and after 7 days, that was taken indomethacin (30 mg/kg/mouse). SKT treated group was injected with MIA and after 7 days that was taken SKT (30 mg/kg/mouse). Positive comparison group and SKT treated group were oral medicated for each substance a total of 4 weeks with one time per day. After experiments (from 1 week after injection of papain to 4 weeks elapsed), the functions of liver and kidney, Prostaglandin E2, inflammatory cytokine (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$), osteocalcin, TIMP-1, MMP-9 within serum. Knee joint structures were observed by H&E, safranin-O staining method, and amount of cartilage were measured by ${\mu}CT$-arthrography. Results 1) Hind paw weight bearing ability was significantly improved. 2) Functions of liver and kidney were not affected. 3) Prostaglandin E2, osteocalcin, TIMP-1, MMP-9 in serum were significantly decreased. 4) Inflammatory cytokine IL-$1{\beta}$ was significantly decreased, and IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ were decreased but had not significant. 5) In terms of histopathology, significantly reduced subsidence of cartilage and bone in H&E staining. And in Safranin O staining, proteoglycan content in synovial membrane was significantly increased compared with control group. 6) Destruction of cartilage on ${\mu}CT$-arthrography was significantly reduced. Conclusions Based on all results mentioned above, Saengkanggamchotang (SKT) is believed to be meaningful for suppressing the progress of osteoarthritis and its treatments.