Search

We investigated the effects of A. galanga extract on metabolism and gene expression involved in the interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) response of human chondrocyte and synovial fibroblast. A. galanga extract inhibited IL-1 β enhanced matrix breakdown of the cartilage explants in a dose-dependent manner. It suppressed uronic acid loss from the tissue and decreased the release of sulfated GAG and hyaluronan into the medium. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in the culture medium of chondrosarcomas and synovial fibroblasts were significantly reduced in the presence of A. galanga extract, which also suppressed the production of MMP-1,-3 and-13. The A. galanga extract also significantly increased type II collagen, SOX9 and aggrecan gene expression, suggesting an ability to enhance anabolic activity. At a high dose of A. galanga extract there was a down-regulation of aggrecan gene expression. Comparison with Diacerein® showed its general anti-inflammatory potential to be similar. The A. galanga extract was shown to inhibit IL-1 β-stimulated cartilage matrix degradation in both systems. Additionally, the extract showed the potential to up-regulate certain chondrocyte anabolic genes. It may, therefore, offer some cartilage protective and anti-inflammatory properties as a therapeutic agent in arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects millions of people worldwide. Patients have traditionally been treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but these are associated with significant side effects. Purification of the acetone extract of Alpinia galanga afforded p-hydroxycinnamaldehyde, as identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry analyses. By exploiting the cartilage explant culture, p-hydroxycinnamaldehyde suppressed loss of uronic acid, resulting in release of hyaluronan (HA), sulfated glycosaminoglycans (s-GAGs) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). p-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), when incubated in primary human chondrocytes, also reduced release of HA, s-GAG and MMP-2. The results demonstrated: (a) that expression levels of the catabolic genes MMP-3 and MMP-13 were suppressed and (b) mRNA expression levels of anabolic genes of collagen II, SOX9 and aggrecan were increased. This study shows that p-hydroxycinnaldehyde from A. galanga Linn. is a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of OA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]