Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the inhibitory effect of traditional Chinese medicine Bu-Shen Gu-Jin prescription (BSGJP) on the secretion of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in SD rat knee osteoarthritis.A total of 44 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,meloxicam model group and BSGJFP group,n=11 for each group.The rats were modeled of improved Hulth method on the right hind limb knee cartilage except for the normal group.After 12 weeks’ treatment,the expressions of IL-1,iNOS in serum,synovial fluid and osteoarthritis of rats were detected and compared by means of enzymelinked immusorbent assay.The results showed that the articular surface of meloxicam group was rough and joint space of meloxicam group was narrow.The osteophyte of meloxicam group was significantly heavier than that of BSGJP group.The expression of IL-1 and iNOS of model group was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of normal group,while the levels of IL-1 and iNOS in BSGJP group and meloxicam group were significant lower than those of other groups (P<0.01). No significant difference (P>0.05) of IL-1 and iNOS levels was detected between these two groups.The results demonstrated that BSGJP can play a role in promoting cartilage repair by effectively suppress the secretion of IL-1 and the expression of iNOS.Our study provided a preliminary experimental basis for using BSGJP as a clinical drug.

Key words: Bu-Shen Gu-Jin prescription, meloxicam, knee osteoarthritis, chondrocytes, interleukin-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase