Conclusion
This study suggests that Maohuoside A exerts anti-osteoarthritis (OA) effects by activating AMPK.
Methods
Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into six groups: Sham, OA, L-MHA, M-MHA, H-MHA, and H-MHA + Compound C (n = 12 per group). The Sham group had sham surgery, while the OA, L-MHA, M-MHA, and H-MHA groups underwent OA via ACL severing. L-MHA, M-MHA, and H-MHA groups received low, moderate, and high doses of Maohuoside A, respectively, and the H-MHA + Compound C group received high-dose Maohuoside A plus Compound C. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Safranin O/Fast Green staining were used to assess articular cartilage damage and degeneration, and the OARSI score was used to evaluate the extent of cartilage degeneration.
Objective
To explore the therapeutic effects of Maohuoside A (MHA) on rats with osteoarthritis (OA) induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection, and to analyze its impact on the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK).
Results
Compared with the OA group, the L-MHA, M-MHA, and H-MHA groups showed decreased OARSI scores, increased relative levels of Bcl-2 mRNA, decreased relative levels of Bax mRNA, reduced serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, increased relative levels of Collagen II mRNA, decreased relative levels of MMP-13 mRNA, and increased relative levels of BMP2, Runx2, and Osterix mRNA. Additionally, the relative level of cartilage AMPKα (Thr172) phosphorylation increased (P<0.05).