Abstract:The mechanism for dandelion extract to improve rheumatoid arthritis in rats was studied. The model of rheumatoid arthritis was established. Relevant indexes of therapeutic effect, pathological observation, and levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-23 (IL-23), interleukin-1 (IL-1), hsCRP, interleukin-1β (IL-β), and Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) osteoprotegerin (OPG), nuclear factor KB ligand receptor activator (RANKL, RANK) were investigated. Results showed that the swelling degree of the plantar paw in high dose of dandelion group (6.42±1.06) was lower than that in the model group (15.18±2.65) (p<0.05), the torsion (9.0±2.0) and foot contraction (8.5±1.5) were higher than those in model group (2.2±0.4 and 2.4±0.5, respectively). The levels of IL-17, IL-23, IL-1, hsCRP, IL-1β, TNF-α in high dose of dandelion group were lower than those in model group (p<0.01). The expressions of OPG (0.42±0.06), RANKL (0.52±0.08), RANK protein (0.45±0.05) in high dose of dandelion group were lower than those in model group (1.18±0.15, 1.35±0.46, 1.23±0.45, respectively) (p<0.01). The results indicated that taraxacum extract could inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines by regulating OPG/RANKL/RANK signaling pathway, and has a therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis in rats.
