A Botanical Mixture (NWG11-02) of <i>Elaeagnus angustifolia</i> L. (oleaster) and <i>Sophora japonica</i> L. Fruit Extract Alleviates Monoiodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis in Rats

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation, synovial inflammation, and impaired joint function. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of a botanical mixture, NWG11-02, comprising <i>Elaeagnus angustifolia</i> L. (oleaster) extract (OE) and <i>Sophora japonica</i> L. fruit extract (SJFE) in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA rat model. Oral administration of the mixture for four weeks significantly improved weight-bearing function and preserved cartilage architecture, as evidenced by reduced Mankin scores and enhanced proteoglycan retention in toluidine blue-stained sections. Molecular analyses revealed that the mixture markedly enhanced the expression of cartilage anabolic markers (aggrecan and type II collagen) and reduced matrix-degrading enzymes (MMP-3 and MMP-13), while suppressing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) at both mRNA and protein levels. These effects exhibited a dose-dependent pattern, with the medium-dose mixture (80 mg/kg) demonstrating superior efficacy compared to individual extracts. No systemic toxicity was observed during the treatment period. Collectively, these findings suggest that NWG11-02 exerts multi-faceted protective effects on joint tissues and may serve as a promising natural therapeutic strategy for OA management.