Table 3 Studies of Epimedium and its active ingredients in improving OA synovial inflammation
From: Effects of genus Epimedium in the treatment of osteoarthritis and relevant signaling pathways
References | Assay type | Component of Epimedium | Concentration/dosage | Cells/model | Effects | Mechanisms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pan [114] | In vitro | Icariin | 0.1, 0.5 and 1 μM | Fibroblast-like synovial cells in OA patients | Proliferation and migration of OA-fibroblast-like synovial cells↓ Matrix degradation: IL-1β↓, MMP14↓ ER stress-related protein: BIP↓ | Regulating cellular functions and gene expression of Fibroblast-like synovial cells in OA patients |
Jin [115] | In vivo | Total flavonoids of Epimedium | 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg | OA rat model established by the transection of anterior cruciate ligament | Pain related indices: PWT↑ Knee joint diameter↓ Inflammatory factors: IL-6↓, IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓ Histopathology: inflammatory cell infiltration in synovial tissue↓, Synovial hyperplasia↓ Signal pathway: p-IκB-α/IκB-α↓, p-p65/p65↓ | Relieving synovial inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB signal pathway in rat OA |
Hu [116] | In vitro | Quercetin | 2, 4 and 8 μM | IL-1β treated chondrocytes in the knee joint of SD rats | Chondrocyte proliferation↑ Matrix formation: aggrecan↑, Col2α↑, GAG↑ Inflammatory factors: PGE2↓, NO↓, iNOS↓, COX-2↓ Matrix degradation: MMP13↓, ADAMTS-4↓ Signal pathway: IκBα↑, p-AKT/AKT↓, p-P65/P65↓, nuclear P65↓ | 1. Anti-inflammation by inhibiting the Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway 2. Promoting the polarization of synovial macrophages to M2 macrophages, to create a microenvironment for chondrogenesis |
In vitro | Quercetin | 8 μM | RAW 264.7 cells | M2 macrophage-related genes: Arg1↑, MR↑, Ym1↑ Pro-chondrogenic cytokines: TGF-β1↑, TGF-β2↑, TGF-β3↑, IGF-1↑, IGF-2↑ Signal pathway: pSTAT6↑, p-AKT↑ | ||
In vivo | Quercetin | 8 μM, 0.1 mL | OA rat model established by removing the medial meniscus and transecting the anterior meniscotibial ligament | Histopathology: structural integrity of cartilage↑, OARSI score↓ Matrix formation: GAG↑, aggrecan↑, Col2α↑ Matrix degradation: MMP13↓ Cell apoptosis: chondrocyte apoptosis↓ M2 macrophage marker (synovial tissues): MR↑ Pro-chondrogenic cytokines (synovial fluid): TGF-β1↑, TGF-β2↑ | ||
Luo [117] | In vitro | Icariin | 2, 5 and 10 µM | LPS-induced human synovial cells (HUM-CELL-0060) | Synovial cell mortality↓, cell viability↑ Ferroptosis-related factors: iron content↓, MDA↓, TFR1↓, NCOA4↓ Antioxidant-related factors: GPX4↑, Nrf2↑ Signal pathway: SLC7A11↑, GPX4↑, SLC3A2L↑ | Treating synovitis by activating the Xc−/GPX4 axis to inhibit ferroptosis |