Effects of Radix Achyrandii Polysaccharide on Cartilage Morphology of Knee Osteoarthritis in Obese Mice Induced by High-fat Diet

Objective: To study the pathological changes of articular cartilage in the process of osteoarthritis induced by high-fat diet and the mechanism of Radix achyrandii polysaccharide on osteoarthritis cartilage, and to explore the protective effect of Achyrannosus achyrannosus polysaccharide on knee osteoarthritis cartilage, so as to provide effective experimental evidence for clinical treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: OA model induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection was established in obese rats induced by high-fat diet. Thirty C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into normal diet group (CON), high fat diet group (OA) and high fat diet plus Radix achyrandii polysaccharide (RAP). The CON group was fed with a basal diet, and the OA and RAA groups were fed with a high-fat diet. After 8 weeks of feeding, the RAP group was treated with polysaccharide (200 mg/kg·d) by gavage once a day for 4 weeks, and the blank group and the model group were given the same volume of normal saline. At the end of the experiment, the serum levels of TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C were detected by biochemical methods. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured by ELISA. H&E staining was used to observe the pathological changes of knee cartilage. Results: Compared with the CON group, the OA group had significantly higher serum levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, MDA, TNF-α and IL-1β, and significantly lower serum HDL-C level and SOD activity. The results of histopathological examination showed that there were pathological changes of cartilage tissue damage in OA group. Compared with the model group, the related indicators of the RA group were improved to varying degrees. Conclusion: Radix achyrandii polysaccharide can protect articular cartilage by improving OA cartilage damage caused by anterior cruciate ligament transection in obese rats, regulating blood lipid related indicators, and inhibiting inflammatory response and oxidation reaction.