OBJECTIVETo study pharmacologic actions for rheumatoid arthritis treatment and probe into the effects and mechanisms of Simiao pill on adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats.

METHODWistar rats, male, were randomly divided into the normal comparison group, model group, the glucosida Tripterygii TOTA group (9.45 mg x kg(-1)), the Simiao pill low dose group (1 080 mg x kg(-1)), the Simiao pill middle dose group (2 160 mg x kg(-1)) and the Simiao pill high dose group (4 320 mg x kg(-1)). Except the normal comparison group, rats in the other groups were injected Freund's complete adjuvant reagent into the rats' right etapedes to establish the AA model. Drugs were given by intragastric administration. Then paw swelling, SOD in blood serum, the spleen and and thoracic gland index, histopathology change of malleolus joint were observed. IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha mRNA were observed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction(sqRT-PCR).

RESULTSimiao pill could inhibit the swelling of the rats' inflamed metapedes. Compared with the model group, each group of Simiao pill could increase SOD, decrease spleen index, advance the thoracic gland index and decrease IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha mRNA.

CONCLUSIONSimiao pill could threat AA rats and inhibit the inflammation of synovial membrane obviously. It also could relieve the degree of paw swelling, and therefore provide clinical theatment basis of RA.