Objectives :
Osteoarthritis also known as degenerative arthritis, is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Medications for osteorthritis have been widely investigated, and oral medication of kyejakjimo-tang has been proved to be immunologically effective for Osteoarthritis. This study was intended to clarify the anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation effects of gamikyejakjimo-tang herbal acupuncture(GKHA) for osteoarthritis by supplementing the components of achyranthis Radix and clematidis Radix.

Methods :
Osteoarthritis was induced by injection of MIA into right knee joint cavities of rats. Rats were divided into a total of 4 groups(n=8). Normal group was not treated at all without inducing osteoarthritis, whereas control group(control) was induced for osteoarthritis by MIA and treated with physiological saline. Positive comparison group(Indomethacin) was oral medicated with indomethacin and experimental group(GKHA) was injected with GKHA. Indomethacin and GKHA were medicated for a total of 4 weeks. After that, HPLC pattern, functions of liver and kidney by AST, ALT, creatinine, BUN, the cell viabiltity of RAW 264.7 cells, total phenolic contents of GK, DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity, ROS(reactive oxygen species) production, NO(Total Nitric oxide), IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α production, weight changes in the hind legs of MIA-induced osteoarthritis rat, serum PGE2, TIMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, LTB4, hs-CRP, and white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes were measured. The volume of cartilage was observed by micro CT arthrography. H&E and Safranin-O staining were used to examine the injury of synovial tissue.

Results :
1. In the hind leg weight bearing measurement, level of weight was increased.
2. AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine were decreased.
3. The production of total white blood cell was decreased, and the production of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes were significantly decreased.
4. The production of NO, PGE2, TIMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, LTB4 were significantly decreased, and the production of hs-CRP was also decreased but with no significance.
5. The cartilage volume was significantly increased.
6. In H&E staining and Safranin-O staning, the cartilage cell appeared to be proliferated, and proteoglycans appeared to be increased.

Conclusions :
Based on the results above, Gamikyejakjimo-tang Herbal Acupuncture has anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation effects, which leads to suppressing the underlying causes and the progression of osteoarthritis. It is expected that Gamikyejakjimo-tang Herbal Acupuncture helps to alleviate the pain of patients suffering from osteoarthritis.
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Key words : Kyejakjimo-tang, Gamikyejakjimo-tang Herbal Acupuncture(GKHA), Osteoarthritis, Cartilage volume, Anti-inflammation, Anti-oxidation.