Commiphora Extract Mixture Ameliorates Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease that affects millions of elderly people around the world. The conventional treatments for OA consisting of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid have negative health consequences, such as gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiac diseases. This study has evaluated the Commiphora extract mixture (HT083) on OA progression as an alternative treatment in animal models. The root of P. lactiflora and the gum resin of C. myrrha have been in use as traditional medicines against many health problems including bone disorders since ancient time. The extracts of P. lactiflora root and C. myrrha gum resin were mixed as 3:1 for their optimal effects. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the knee joints to induce the symptoms identical to human OA. HT083 substantially prevented the loss of weight-bearing inflicted with MIA in rats. The MIA-induced cartilage erosion as well as the subchondral bone damage in the rats was also reversed. In addition, the increase of serum IL-1 beta concentration, a crucial pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in OA progression was countered by HT083. Furthermore, HT083 significantly reduced the acetic acid-induced writhing response in mice. In vitro, HT083 has shown potent anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting the production of NO and suppressing the interleukin -1 beta, interleukin -6, cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in lipopolysaccharide -stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Given its potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in MIA rats and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, HT083 should be further studied in order to explain its mechanism of actions in alleviating OA pain and inflammation.