Mechanism of Qianghuo in Alleviating Knee Osteoarthritis Induced by Meniscal Injury in Rats

Background and Aim: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease marked by cartilage degradation, inflammation, and pain, leading to reduced mobility. This study investigates how Qianghuo alleviates KOA induced by meniscal injury in rats.Experimental Procedure: KOA was induced in rats via right hind limb meniscectomy. Rats were divided into Sham, KOA, and Qianghuo treatment groups (1 g/mL, 0.5 mL/d for 21 days). In vitro, IL-1β-induced chondrocyte models were used with Qianghuo (100 mol/L for 48 hours). Behavioral observations, CCK-8 assays, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analyses were performed.Results: KOA rats showed increased VAS scores, quadriceps atrophy, and decreased joint mobility. IL-1βreduced chondrocyte proliferation and increased apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and matrix degradation. Qianghuo treatment reversed these effects.Conclusion: Qianghuo alleviates KOA by promoting chondrocyte proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and preventing matrix degradation, highlighting its potential in KOA treatment.