Experimental Study on Intervention Effect of Tougu Xiaotong Capsule on Inflammatory Approaches of COX-2 in Early Osteoarthritis

Objective To investigate the effect of Tougu Xiaotong capsule on inflammatory approaches of COX-2 in early osteoarthritis and elucidate the mechanism of Tougu Xiaotong capsule from the view of inflammatory approach.Methods New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into model group,control group,Tougu Xiaotong capsule groups with different doses respectively and normal group.Except those in the normal group,all the rabbits were replicated into knee osteoarthritis model using modified Hulth method.Intragastric administration was adopted for 4 weeks,then each group was executed respectively and the contents of COX-2 and PGE2 in joint liquid were detected.Results Tougu Xiaotong capsule decreased the contents of PGE2 in joint liquid and COX-2 in synovium and cartilage,and the decreasing amplitude in Tougu Xiaotong capsule middle-dose group and high-dose group were higher than that in Tougu Xiaotong capsule low-dose group and control group(P0.05),but there was not significant difference between Tougu Xiaotong capsule middle-dose group and high-dose group.Conclusion Local COX-2 may play important roles in the development of knee osteoarthritis.Tougu Xiaotong capsule could control inflammations,relieve pain and alleviate symptoms in early osteoarthritis by inhibiting the expression of COX-2 in synovium and cartilage and the production of PGE2.