Main Article Content

Luteolin prevents monoiodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in post-menopausal rats via protection of the cartilage


Hao Li
Yan Gao

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of luteolin treatment in postmenopausal model of osteoarthritis (OA)
Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Luteolin was given orally to rats at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for 4 months, while aceclofenac was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg. The antiinflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of luteolin and aceclofenac were determined using paw-withdrawal method. Knee joint thickness was measured using X-ray imaging. Pathological changes in bone slices were determined with immuno-histochemical evaluation. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis.
Results: Oral ingestion of luteolin significantly reduced manifestations of OA and suppressed levels of serum cytokines (p < 0.05). Moreover, luteolin increased expression of bone marker protein and reduced the gene expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs, p < 0.05), suggesting its protective effects on chondrocytes. Luteolin significantly reduced the production of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1, and IL-6). Histopathological examination showed that luteolin
decreased pathological lesions in monoiodoacetate-mediated OA in ovariectomized rats, indicating
prevention of cartilage loss.
Conclusion: These results suggest that luteolin exerts protective effects against monoiodoacetateinduced (MIA) OA in ovariectomized rats by suppressing the expressions of inflammation-related mediators (IL-1β, Cox-2, and PGE-2). Thus, luteolin is a prospective option for the suppression of postmenopausal OA in humans.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996