Use of traditional chinese medicine composition containing cnidium and honeysuckle in preparation of medicine for treating rheumatoid arthritis
By using a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and promote osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, the problem of existing drugs being unable to slow down bone destruction has been solved, and the effect of effectively relieving rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and bone damage has been achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410136354.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-10
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-01-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing medications for treating rheumatoid arthritis can relieve arthritis symptoms but cannot effectively slow down the bone destruction process, and they are also expensive and have toxic side effects.
Using a combination of traditional Chinese medicines containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica, this drug is developed to treat rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation, promoting osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, and reducing joint swelling and synovial hyperplasia.
It effectively inhibits bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis, reduces damage to articular cartilage and subchondral bone, relieves joint swelling and inflammation, promotes osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, and has good effects of dispelling wind and dampness, strengthening tendons and bones, clearing heat and removing blood stasis, and relieving pain by unblocking the meridians.
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Figure CN117883516B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of pharmaceutical technology, specifically relating to the application of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica in the preparation and treatment of drugs for rheumatoid arthritis. Background Technology
[0002] Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease characterized by cartilage deformity and bone destruction, which leads to joint damage and dysfunction. The etiology of RA is complex, and its course varies greatly, ranging from early and long-term remission to persistent and disabling joint damage. Early stages of RA are characterized by persistent synovitis and progressive, symmetrical destruction of multiple joints, along with intra-articular manifestations including subchondral lesions, osteopenia, and decreased systemic bone mineral density. Due to the long course of RA, early diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial to preventing long-term damage. As an autoimmune disease, RA involves the body mistakenly attacking the synovial tissue of the joints, leading to synovial cell proliferation and the production of inflammatory factors. These inflammatory factors damage bone and cartilage, ultimately resulting in loss of joint function.
[0003] Bone is a highly dynamic tissue, constantly undergoing degradation and remodeling. Its balance is maintained by osteoblasts (OBs) and osteoclasts (OCs). Both osteoblasts and osteoclasts play crucial roles in bone metabolism. In normal adult bone metabolism, osteoclasts resorb old bone, creating depressions in the bone. Osteoblasts release bone matrix to fill these depressions, which then mineralize to form new bone. When this balance is disrupted, insufficient bone formation or excessive bone resorption occurs, leading to bone loss. In particular, a significant characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis is an inflammatory-driven imbalance in the osteoblast-osteoclast axis, resulting in increased osteoclast bone resorption and ultimately bone destruction.
[0004] Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) considers bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to fall under the category of "Bi syndrome," also known as "Bi disease," "Li Jie," "Gu Bi," or "Gu erosion." The earliest record of Bi syndrome is found in the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic), which states, "Wind, cold, and dampness combine to form Bi syndrome," indicating a connection between Bi syndrome and these three pathogenic factors. The *Suwen* (Plain Questions) states, "The kidneys generate bone marrow." The *Suwen* also states, "If bone Bi syndrome persists, and is further affected by pathogenic factors, it will reside internally in the kidneys." These statements illustrate that sufficient kidney essence provides a source for bone marrow production, nourishing the tendons and bones. Therefore, the etiology of RA, besides external pathogenic factors, is also related to insufficient kidney essence. The *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot) states, "When heat overcomes cold, the flesh rots and the muscles become pus, causing internal bone damage and bone erosion." The *Qianjin Yaofang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) points out, "If Li Jie wind affects a person for a long time without treatment, it will cause joint fractures; this is the harm caused by wind poisoning," indicating that wind, cold, dampness, and heat can all cause Bi syndrome, with wind being the most prevalent. The *Clinical Guide to Medical Cases* states, "In the early stages of illness, damp-heat is present in the meridians; over time, stagnant heat enters the collaterals." Wang Qingren's concept of "blood stasis leading to arthralgia" also points out that damp-heat and blood stasis are important pathogenic mechanisms of bone destruction.
[0005] Currently, medications for treating rheumatoid arthritis include glucocorticoids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, biologics, and antirheumatic drugs. These medications can alleviate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms to some extent, but they have problems such as high cost (e.g., biologics), significant toxic side effects, and they cannot slow down the bone destruction process of RA. Summary of the Invention
[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides the application of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica in the preparation and treatment of drugs for rheumatoid arthritis. Scientific research has shown that this traditional Chinese medicine composition can alleviate articular cartilage and subchondral bone damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis, promote osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, and reduce joint swelling, synovial hyperplasia, and inflammatory cell infiltration caused by rheumatoid arthritis, thus having a therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis. This traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can be developed into a drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
[0007] This invention first provides the application of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica in the preparation and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and the symptoms caused by rheumatoid arthritis or in the use of medicaments to alleviate these symptoms.
[0008] Preferably, the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium root and Lonicera japonica stem includes Notopterygium root, Angelica sinensis root, Acanthopanax senticosus root bark, Dioscorea hypoglauca root, Lycopus lucidus root, Lonicera japonica stem, Morinda officinalis root, and scorpion.
[0009] Preferably, the condition includes articular cartilage destruction and subchondral bone destruction caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
[0010] Preferably, the condition includes joint swelling, synovial hyperplasia, and joint inflammatory cell infiltration caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
[0011] Preferably, the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica inhibits osteoclast differentiation in the arthritis joints, thereby treating rheumatoid arthritis and the symptoms caused by rheumatoid arthritis or alleviating its symptoms.
[0012] Preferably, the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can treat rheumatoid arthritis and its symptoms by promoting osteoblast differentiation and mineralization.
[0013] Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition is prepared into tablets, capsules, granules, pills, powders, mixtures, or syrups with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:
[0015] This invention provides a scientific basis for developing a drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis using Notopterygium root, Angelica sinensis root, Acanthopanax bark, Dioscorea hypoglauca root, Lycopus lucidus root, Lonicera japonica stem, Morinda officinalis root, and scorpion as raw materials, and has significant application value. Notopterygium root, as described in this invention, has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness and benefiting joints. Angelica sinensis root nourishes and invigorates blood, warms the meridians and unblocks collaterals, disperses blood stasis and reduces swelling. Arthralgia is always accompanied by blood stasis, and prolonged blood stasis inevitably leads to deficiency. Angelica sinensis root nourishes and invigorates blood, combining both tonifying and purging properties, making it an ideal medicine for tonifying deficiency and dispelling blood stasis. Notopterygium root has a potent medicinal property; when combined with Angelica sinensis root, it can prevent excessive dispersion and depletion of qi and blood. Acanthopanax bark dispels wind and dampness, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling, and strengthens tendons and bones. Dioscorea hypoglauca root promotes diuresis and removes turbidity, dispels wind and eliminates arthralgia. Scorpion extinguishes wind and relieves spasms, attacks toxins and disperses nodules, unblocks collaterals and relieves pain. Lycopus lucidus root removes blood stasis and reduces carbuncles, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling. Lonicera japonica stem dispels wind and unblocks collaterals, clears heat and detoxifies. Morinda officinalis dispels wind and dampness, strengthens tendons and bones; it nourishes without causing stagnation and disperses without causing dryness, making it an essential medicine for treating chronic arthralgia in the lower abdomen, waist, and knees. The *Jisheng Fang* records, "All these are due to physical weakness, open pores, and susceptibility to wind, cold, and dampness, leading to arthralgia." Rheumatoid arthritis, besides being affected by external pathogens, also involves underlying deficiency. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is due to liver and kidney deficiency, resulting in insufficient nourishment of tendons and bones; when combined with external pathogens, these pathogens linger in the tendons, muscles, and pores, eventually leading to arthralgia. Rheumatoid arthritis often shares a common pathological basis of blood stasis and heat at different stages of the disease; therefore, clearing heat and resolving blood stasis should be a consistent principle throughout the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The above-mentioned traditional Chinese medicine principles are based on the scientific selection and proportioning of raw materials. The components can have additive, synergistic and complementary effects, and have good effects of dispelling wind and dampness, strengthening muscles and bones, clearing heat and removing blood stasis, and relieving pain. They can effectively inhibit the radiological progression of bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis, effectively relieve joint swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis, and have the effects of inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and promoting osteoblast differentiation and mineralization.
[0016] This invention, through scientific research, has discovered that the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can reduce articular cartilage and subchondral bone damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis, alleviate joint swelling, synovial hyperplasia, and inflammatory cell infiltration caused by rheumatoid arthritis, and has the effect of treating rheumatoid arthritis. The traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can be developed into a drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 The effects of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica on joint bone destruction and bone parameters in rats with rheumatoid arthritis (compared with the model group, *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001).
[0018] Figure 2 Images of Safranin-Fix Green staining of ankle cartilage in rats from different groups.
[0019] Figure 3 Images of H&E staining in rats from different groups.
[0020] Figure 4 TRAP staining images of osteoclasts in the ankle joints of rats from different groups.
[0021] Figure 5 The traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica directly inhibited the differentiation of BMMs cells into osteoclasts (***p<0.001 compared with the model group).
[0022] Figure 6 A traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica directly promotes the differentiation and mineralization of BMSC cells into osteoblasts. Detailed Implementation
[0023] The present invention can be better understood from the following embodiments, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Unless otherwise specified, the experimental methods used in the following embodiments are conventional methods; unless otherwise specified, the reagents, materials, etc. used in the following embodiments are commercially available.
[0024] The raw materials of the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium root and Lonicera japonica stem involved in the following examples, by weight, include: 9 parts Notopterygium root, 15 parts Angelica sinensis root, 10 parts Acanthopanax senticosus root bark, 15 parts Dioscorea hypoglauca root, 10 parts Lycopus lucidus root, 30 parts Lonicera japonica stem, 10 parts Morinda officinalis root, and 6 parts Buthus martensii root. Example
[0025] This embodiment investigates the effect of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica on rheumatoid arthritis in rats by constructing a rat collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. The specific investigation method is as follows.
[0026] I. Experimental Methods
[0027] 1. Construction of a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA)
[0028] The pathological features of RA include extensive inflammatory cell infiltration in the interstitium, synovial lining cell proliferation, pannus formation, and bone and cartilage destruction. The pathological features and processes of the CIA rat model are highly similar to those of human RA, and it is widely recognized as the best experimental animal model for arthritis studies. The efficacy of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica in treating rheumatoid arthritis was confirmed using the CIA rat model. Eight-week-old female Wistar rats were acclimatized for 7 days and then numbered. Twenty-four rats were randomly selected from 30 Wistar rats for CIA modeling. For the initial immunization, 200 μL of an emulsion of bovine collagen II and complete Freund's adjuvant was injected subcutaneously into the tail of each rat at a distance of 1.5 cm from the tail root using a 1 mL syringe. Seven days after the initial immunization, a booster immunization was performed, using incomplete Freund's adjuvant mixed with bovine collagen, and an emulsion was prepared. For the booster immunization, each rat was injected with the same amount of emulsion as the initial immunization, injected on the opposite side of the initial injection site.
[0029] 2. Animal grouping and administration
[0030] Thirty rats were divided into five groups: normal group, model group, methotrexate group (MTX), low-dose group of traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica (QF-L), and high-dose group of traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica (QF-H). On the day of booster immunization, rats were administered the medicine via gavage. The QF-L dose was 4.73 g / kg once daily; the QF-H dose was 18.9 g / kg once daily; the methotrexate dose was 0.92 mg / kg twice weekly; and in the normal and model groups, rats were administered an equal volume of double-distilled water via gavage daily.
[0031] 3. Micro-CT scan
[0032] After 35 days of drug administration, rats were anesthetized, euthanized, and their left hind limbs were dissected and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde. The rat paw joints were scanned using a Micro-CT in vivo imaging system under the following conditions: 35.76 μm, Source Voltage (kV) = 65, Source Current (uA) = 385. Following the scan, three-dimensional reconstruction of the rat ankle joints was performed using the Micro-CT system's CTAn, Ctvox, and NRecon software.
[0033] 4. H&E staining
[0034] (1) Material preparation: Take the left leg and organs of rats, fix the tissue with 4% paraformaldehyde, embed in paraffin and section. (2) Soak the sections in xylene, anhydrous ethanol and 75% alcohol in sequence, dewax to water and wash with tap water. (3) Stain the sections in hematoxylin solution for 3-5 min, then wash with water and differentiate with differentiation solution. Finally wash with tap water, then blue with blue solution and rinse with running water. (4) Soak the sections in 85% and 95% alcohol for 5 min each, then stain with eosin solution for 5 min. (5) Soak the sections in anhydrous ethanol repeatedly for 5 min each time; then soak them in xylene repeatedly for 5 min each time. Until the sections are transparent, add an appropriate amount of neutral resin, and finally seal with a coverslip. (6) Examine and photograph under an optical microscope.
[0035] 5. TRAP staining
[0036] (1) Take sections of rat ankle joints, soak the sections repeatedly in environmentally friendly dewaxing and clearing solution twice, 20 min each time; then soak them repeatedly in anhydrous ethanol twice, 5 min each time; soak them in 75% alcohol for 5 min. After dewaxing to water, wash with tap water and then three times with distilled water. (2) Preparation of solution B: Add the same amount of TRAP staining solution B to TRAP staining solution C, mix them evenly, and use immediately. Preparation of solution C: Add 20 mg of TRAP staining solution D to 1 mL of TRAP staining solution E, and dissolve and mix them thoroughly. Mix 18 mL of TRAP staining solution A, 1 mL of solution B and 1 mL of solution C evenly, then add 0.282 g of TRAP staining solution F, dissolve it thoroughly and filter it. The TRAP staining solution is now ready. (3) Place the sections in a humidified box containing 37 ℃ distilled water and incubate for 2 h. Discard the distilled water, place the sections back in a humidified box, add Trap staining solution, and place in an oven at 37 ℃ for 20 min. (4) Discard the staining solution, wash with tap water, counterstain the nuclei with hematoxylin staining solution for 15 s, differentiate with differentiation solution, and re-blue with blue solution. (5) After routine dehydration and clearing, mount the sections with neutral resin. (6) Take photographs under an optical microscope.
[0037] 6. Safranin-Fixed Green Staining
[0038] (1) Take rat ankle joint sections, dewax them using environmentally friendly dewaxing and clearing solution, anhydrous ethanol, and 75% alcohol until water is removed, then wash with tap water. (2) Immerse the sections in bone tissue Fast Green staining solution for 1-5 min, then wash away excess staining solution with tap water. Immerse in 1% hydrochloric acid alcohol for 10 s, then wash with water. (3) Immerse the sections in bone tissue Safranin staining solution for 1-5 s, then dehydrate with anhydrous ethanol. (4) Immerse the sections in xylene for 5 min to make them transparent, then mount them with neutral resin. (5) Take pictures under a microscope.
[0039] 7. Osteoclast differentiation induction
[0040] Bone marrow cells were obtained from the long bones of 8-week-old male C57BL / 6 mice. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were cultured in α-MEM medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 100 U / mL penicillin, 100 μg / mL streptomycin, and 30 ng / mL M-CSF, and cultured for 3 days in a humidified incubator at 37°C and 5% CO2. BMMs were seeded into 96-well plates, and QF-L, QF-H, 30 ng / mL M-CSF, and 100 ng / mL RANKL were added. The medium was changed every 2 days. After 6 days of culture, cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) and stained with TRAP. TRAP-positive multinucleated cells (nucleus count ≥3) were counted using an optical microscope.
[0041] 8. Osteoblast differentiation induction experiment
[0042] Mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in α-MEM complete medium. When the cells reached 80%-90% confluence, osteogenic induction and differentiation were initiated. Control groups and QF-L and QF-H groups were established. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured after 7 days of culture; alkaline ALP staining was performed after 14 days; and the formation of mineralized calcium nodules was observed using Alizarin Red staining 21 days after induction of differentiation. Five days after culture, cells were used for Western blotting experiments to detect the protein expression of osteoblast differentiation-related transcription factors.
[0043] II. Experimental Results
[0044] 1. Effects of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica on bone destruction and bone parameters in CIA rats
[0045] The results are as follows Figure 1 As shown in (A), Micro-CT scans and three-dimensional reconstruction analysis of the ankle joints of rats in each group revealed that the ankle bones of the normal group were smooth and uniform, with no bone destruction. The ankle joints of the model group rats, however, showed significant bone erosion, bone destruction, and missing articular surfaces. The traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica significantly improved the bone destruction in CIA rats, resulting in a more intact joint structure.
[0046] Results of bone parameter analysis, such as Figure 1In the model group (BC), compared with the normal group, bone mineral density (BMD) and mean trabecular bone thickness (Tb.Th) were significantly decreased, while the bone surface area to bone volume ratio (BS / BV) was significantly increased. Compared with the model group, the positive control drug methotrexate improved bone parameters, but without significant effect. Low and high doses of the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica significantly improved BMD and mean trabecular bone thickness in CIA rats, and the improvement was dose-dependent. Therefore, the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can significantly inhibit the progression of bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.
[0047] 2. Effects of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica on cartilage damage in CIA rats.
[0048] The results of cartilage safranin-fast green staining are as follows Figure 2 As shown, the ankle cartilage matrix of the normal group rats appeared deep red, with no cartilage tissue destruction. In the model group rats, the safranin staining of the cartilage layer was extremely low, indicating near-total cartilage destruction, irregular bone surface, and significant cartilage loss. The cartilage destruction in the methotrexate positive control group of CIA rats was not significantly different from that in the model group. The low- and high-dose groups of the herbal composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica showed better cartilage matrix levels than the model group, with no cartilage loss, indicating that the herbal composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can significantly inhibit articular cartilage destruction in CIA rats.
[0049] 3. Effects of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica on pathological changes in the paw joints of CIA rats.
[0050] H&E staining results are as follows Figure 3 As shown, in the normal group, the joint spaces in the ankle joints of rats were adequate, with no synovial hyperplasia, and no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration or bone matrix erosion on the bone surface. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed severe ankle joint bone damage, extensive synovial hyperplasia, narrowed or even closed joint spaces, and extensive inflammatory cell infiltration on the bone surface. The positive control group (methotrexate) showed significant synovial hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration in CIA rats. The group containing the traditional Chinese medicine composition of Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica showed more intact joint structure, fewer inflammatory cells on the bone surface compared to the model group, and no obvious synovial hyperplasia. The results indicate that the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can significantly improve the pathological changes in the paw joints of CIA rats.
[0051] 4. Effects of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica on osteoclast differentiation in the ankle joint of CIA rats.
[0052] Osteoclasts are the main cells responsible for bone resorption, and their abnormal differentiation and production affect the development of bone destruction in rat rhabdomyolysis (RA). TRAP staining was performed on paraffin sections of the ankle joints of rats in each group to observe the number of osteoclasts. Figure 4As shown, osteoclasts stain positively with a purplish-red color. No purplish-red cells were observed in the ankle joint of the normal group rats, while a large number of positively stained osteoclasts appeared on the surface of the ankle bone in the model group rats, resulting in irregular bone defects. The number of osteoclasts decreased to varying degrees in both the herbal composition group containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica, with the herbal composition group showing a more significant dose-dependent reduction in osteoclast numbers. The results of this study on osteoclast differentiation in the ankle joint of CIA rats indicate that the herbal composition group containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation in CIA rats, thereby inhibiting joint bone destruction.
[0053] 5. Effects of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica on osteoclast differentiation
[0054] The results are as follows Figure 5 After 6 days of culture, compared with the M-CSF group, the RANKL group showed a large number of large TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts in BMMs. The herbal composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica inhibited the number of osteoclasts in a dose-dependent manner. This indicates that the herbal composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can directly inhibit osteoclast formation.
[0055] 6. Effects of traditional Chinese medicine compositions containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica on osteoblast differentiation and mineralization.
[0056] Alkaline phosphatase is a marker of osteoblast differentiation; staining and detection of it are used to analyze osteoblast differentiation status. Results are as follows... Figure 6 As shown in (A), on day 14 of BMSC induction and differentiation culture, alkaline phosphatase staining results showed that the staining color became darker and the alkaline phosphatase staining blocks more prominent with increasing concentration of the herbal composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica. As a marker of osteoblast maturation, extracellular mineralization was analyzed by staining the calcified nodules of differentiated BMSC osteoblasts with Alizarin Red. The results are as follows... Figure 6 As shown in (B), on day 21 of cell induction differentiation, the intensity and area of Alizarin Red staining were directly proportional to the concentration of the herbal composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica. The results indicate that the herbal composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica significantly promotes osteoblast differentiation and mineralization.
[0057] In summary, the above research results show that the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can directly inhibit osteoclast differentiation and promote osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in vitro. In vivo animal experiments show that the traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can significantly reduce joint bone destruction, decrease cartilage damage, inhibit synovial hyperplasia and joint inflammatory cell infiltration, and reduce the number of osteoclasts differentiating in the joints of CIA rats. The aforementioned traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica can be developed into a drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
[0058] The embodiments described above are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Any obvious improvements, substitutions or modifications that can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential content of the present invention are within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. The application of a traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium incisum and Lonicera japonica in the preparation of a medicament for treating rheumatoid arthritis, characterized in that, The traditional Chinese medicine composition containing Notopterygium root and Lonicera japonica stem is composed of 9 parts Notopterygium root, 15 parts Angelica sinensis root, 10 parts Acanthopanax senticosus root bark, 15 parts Dioscorea hypoglauca root, 10 parts Lycopus lucidus root, 30 parts Lonicera japonica stem, 10 parts Morinda officinalis root, and 6 parts Buthus martensii root by weight.