P8 Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats via modulation of PPAR-γ

Ginsenoside Rg1, a natural product extracted from Panax ginseng , has already been shown to have good anti-inflammatory effects. However, the protective effects of Rg1 on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of Rg1 in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats. AIA rats were given Rg1 at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 19 days to examine the anti-arthritic effects. The results demonstrated that Rg1 significantly alleviated joint swelling and injuries of left hind paws. Serum level of TNF-α was also significantly reduced. Rg1 also increased PPAR-γ protein expression in the inflammatory joints of AIA rats. The results demonstrate that Rg1 exerts therapeutic effects in the treatment of AIA rats, and the mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory effects may involve the up-regulating of the PPAR-γ signalling pathway.