Experimental study of the effects of the level of the nitric oxide (NO) in serum,articular cartilage and syn- ovial membrane with the Chinese herbs of Busheng Huoxue in osteoarthritis rabbits knee

Objective To explore the effects of Busheng Huoxue Decoction on nitric oxide (NO) in serum,articular cartilage and synovial membrane in rabbits' knee joint Methods 48 New Zealand rabbits of 6- 10 months were used in this study. They were divided randomly into the normal group (18),control group (18) and Chinese herbs treating group (12).The rabbits in normal group underwent sham-operation,and others established the OA model with Hulth's method All rabbits, except the normal and control group, were given drugs from 6 weeks after operation. At 6 weeks,8 weeks and 12 weeks after operation, the NO concentration of the serum,articular cartilage and synovial membrane all of rabbits were examined. Results The NO concentration of the serum,articular cartilage and synovial membrane in control group was all significantly higher than those in normal group, with the articular cartilage more obvious than others'. Compared with other groups, the NO concentration of Chinese herbs treating group were obviously decreased (P 0.05). But all of them were higher than that of the normal group. Conclusion The Busheng Huoxue Decoction was effective in preventing and treating osteoarthritis by means of decreasing the level of NO of the serum,synovial membrane and articalar cartilage.