Effects of Ronggu Dingtong Ointments on Inflammatory Cells and Cytokines in Rats with Osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of Ronggu dingtong ointments(RGDT ointments) on inflammatory cells and cytokines in rats with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS OA model was established by injecting 4% papain in articular cavity. The function of knees, synovial thickness, and the content of inflammatory cells in synovial fluid were observed. ELISA kits were used to measure the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. RESULTS RGDT ointments increased the movable degree of knees, decreased the synovial swelling thickness of joints and the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum. CONCLUSION RGDT ointments has some therapeutical effects on OA, and one of the mechanisms may be remitting inflammation of joint and decreasing the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α.