Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of modified Zhuye Shigao decoction and its relevant mechanisms

in order to clarify the scientific basis for superior efficiency of traditional Chinese medicines in the clinical treatment of GA (damp heat accumulation) according to Wu School's therapy for gout. Method: Totally 120 C57BL/6 mice were selected.The models of peritonitis and acute gouty arthritis were induced with monosodium urate (MSU) crystals

with 50 C57BL/6 mice for each model.Both the mice models were randomly divided into different groups

namely the model group

the positive control group (colchicine

0.65 mg·kg-1)

the modified Zhuye Shigao decoction group (11.48

5.74

2.87 g·kg-1)

and the normal control group

with 10 mice in each group.After the intervention with different medicines

serums of both inflammation models were collected to detect the inflammatory mediators interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and Caspase-1 with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

and observe the effect of medicines for the acute inflammation response.The joint inflammatory reaction was induced by injecting MSU crystal suspension inside the ankle joint of the right hind limb.The arthritis was scored at 6 h after modeling; joint tissues (synovial membrane

cartilage and bone) were collected at 48 h to prepare paraffin sections

and analyze the pathological damage degree of acute gouty arthritis in mice with histological examination (HE) assay. Result: Serum IL-1β and Caspase-1 of the model group were significantly higher than the normal group (P<0.01)

with more obvious inflammatory infiltration and arthritis symptom in the model group; serum IL-1β and Caspase-1 of mice in the modified Zhuye Shigao decoction groups were lower than the model group (P<0.05

P<0.01)

with remarkable alleviation in inflammatory cell infiltration and symptoms of arthritis in mice. Conclusion: Modified Zhuye Shigao decoction has an anti-inflammatory effect

whose mechanism may be related to inhibition of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β

Caspase-1.