Objective: To investigate the effects of Gancao Fuzi Tang on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) in mice. Method: Male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups:normal group

model group

glycoside from Tripterygium wilfordii group

Gancao Fuzi fang high dose

middle dose and low dose groups (3.9

7.8

15.6 g·kg-1)

n=12 in each group. AA model was used for all the mice except those in normal group

and on day 12 after modeling

corresponding drugs were given

qd

for 18 days. Then the effect of drugs on paw edema of the animals was observed and the histopathological changes of the ankle joint were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6)

interleukin-1β (IL-1β)and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases-1(MMP-1)and matrix metalloproteinases-3(MMP-3) were detected by Western blot. Result: Gancao Fuzi Tang significantly alleviated joint swelling

changed inflammatory cell infiltration

alleviated synovial hyperplasia and bone erosion

reduced the levels of TNF-α

IL-1β and IL-6(P<0.05)

and decreased MMP-1 and MMP-3 protein expressions (P<0.05) in AA mice. Conclusion: The results indicate that Gancao Fuzi Tang has therapeutic effect on AA mouse

and the mechanism might be associated with its anti-inflammatory effects and down-regulating MMP-1 and MMP-3 expressions in synovial tissues.