Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Luteolin prevents monoiodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in post-menopausal rats via protection of the cartilage

Hao Li, Yan Gao

Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China;

For correspondence:- Yan Gao Email: gynxgyr@126.com Tel:+863513232325

Accepted: 19 September 2021 Published: 31 October 2021

Citation: Li H, Gao Y. Luteolin prevents monoiodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in post-menopausal rats via protection of the cartilage. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(10):2099-2107 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i10.13

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of luteolin treatment in postmenopausal model of osteoarthritis (OA)

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Luteolin was given orally to rats at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for 4 months, while aceclofenac was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg. The anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of luteolin and aceclofenac were determined using paw-withdrawal method. Knee joint thickness was measured using X-ray imaging. Pathological changes in bone slices were determined with immuno-histochemical evaluation. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis.

Results: Oral ingestion of luteolin significantly reduced manifestations of OA and suppressed levels of serum cytokines (p < 0.05). Moreover, luteolin increased expression of bone marker protein and reduced the gene expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs, p < 0.05), suggesting its protective effects on chondrocytes. Luteolin significantly reduced the production of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1, and IL-6). Histopathological examination showed that luteolin decreased pathological lesions in monoiodoacetate-mediated OA in ovariectomized rats, indicating prevention of cartilage loss.

Conclusion: These results suggest that luteolin exerts protective effects against monoiodoacetate-induced (MIA) OA in ovariectomized rats by suppressing the expressions of inflammation-related mediators (IL-1β, Cox-2, and PGE-2). Thus, luteolin is a prospective option for the suppression of post-menopausal OA in humans.

Keywords: Luteolin, Osteoarthritis, Overiectomy, Aceclofenac