Objective: To study the effect of the Qingpeng paste on synovium angiogenesis and cartilage destruction in rats with adjuvant arthritis(AA). Method: The rat AA models were induced by injection of Freund’s complete adjuvant. Then modeling rats were randomly divided in model group

the Qingpeng paste high-does group and the Qingpeng paste low-does group. The treatment groups were given Qingpeng paste 1.6

0.4 g·kg-1 on their right-hindlimb for 4 weeks.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)

hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)

matrix metalloporoteinase-3(MMP-3)

nitric-oxide synthase(iNOS) were observed. HE staining was used to examine the pathology of synovium on joint. Result: Qingpeng paste high-does and low-does significantly decreased the amount of angiogenesis in synovium compared with the left-hindlimb and the control group. Qingpeng paste high-does significantly decreased the expression of VEGF

HIF-1α

iNOS (P<0.05); low-does significantly decreased the expression of VEGF and iNOS(P<0.05)

the expression of HIF-1α did not change significantly compare with the left-hindlimb and the control group

but the expression of HIF-1α was decreased. However

the expression of MMP-3 did not decrease significantly in the two groups. Conclusion: Qingpeng paste can alleviate the synovium angiogenesis and protect joint cartilage in AA rats.