Baicalin Attenuates Joint Pain and Muscle Dysfunction by Inhibiting Muscular Oxidative Stress in an Experimental Osteoarthritis Rat Model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease, and causes major pain and disability in adults. It has been reported that muscle weakness and inflammation contribute to osteoarthritis development and progression. Oxidative stress plays important roles in muscle dysfunction and inflammation in osteomyelitis. Baicalin, the major active constituent of the isolated root of Scutellarialateriflora Georgi, has been shown to have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we evaluated the potential effects of baicalin on osteoarthritis. We established experimental osteoarthritis rat model, applied baicalin to the rats, and then explored the potential protective effect of baicalin on osteoarthritis severity, muscle dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Baicalin alleviated severity of OA in rats. Baicalin application attenuated muscle dysfunction in OA rats by increasing citrate synthase activity, myosin heavy chain IIa expression, and decreasing interleukin 6 production. Baicalin decreased muscular reactive oxygen species generation in OA rats. Baicalin inhibited nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 expression in OA rats. Baicalin attenuated osteoarthritis in rat by inhibiting oxidative stress.

Anti-complementary effect of polysaccharide B3-PS1 in Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (Scutellaria barbata).

The polysaccharide B3-PS1 was extracted and purified from Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (Scutellaria barbata D. Don), through bioactivity-guided fractionation. Average molecular weight of B3-PS1 was about 1,700,000 Da with a composition of Gal, Glc, Man and Ara in the ratio of 4.3:1.6:1.1:1.0, and trace of Rha, Fuc and Xyl. Preliminary data showed that 1) B3-PS1 inhibited complement activation of the classic pathway with CH(50) value of 0.12 +/- 0.02 mg/ml and of the alternative pathways with AP(50) value of 0.36 +/- 0.05 mg/ml; 2) B3-PS1 interacts with C1q, C1r, C1s, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C9 through a hemolytic assay. These results strongly suggested that B3-PS1 could be a potential candidate in treating those complement-associated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).