Mechanism of total saponins of Radix Clematidis on rheumatoid arthritis

Aim:To study the action mechanism of total saponinis of Radix Clematidis (TSRC) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods:The proliferation of ConA-induced T lymphocyte model was observed to find out whether TSRC had some effect on the proliferation of T lymphocytes;The serum concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1β),interleukin-2 (IL-2) and TNF-α in adjuvant-induced primary arthritis rats were measured by the enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) kits.And the concentrations of PGE2 in the swollen feet of adjuvant-induced primary arthritis rats were measured by the method of potassium hydroxide-methanol.Results:It was found that TSRC inhibited the proliferation of ConA-induced T lymphocytes in mice and decreased the concentrations of both the cell factor and PGE2 in the adjuvant-induced primary arthritis rats.Conclusion:The anti-RA effect of TSRC might attributed to the inhibition on the proliferation of T lymphocytes in mice and the attenuations in the concentration of both cell factors and PGE2 in the adjuvant-induced primary arthritis rats.