Objective: To observe the effect and mechanism of total flavonoids of Lantana camara on rheumatoid arthritis(RA)in rats. Method: After establishing rat Freund's adjurant arthritis(AA) model

rats with AA were divided into four groups

model group

dexamethasone group(0.15 mg·kg-1) and total flavonoids of L.camara group(100

25 mg·kg-1).The total flavonoids of L.camara group were given for 16 days. The effects of total flavonoids of L.camara on anti-arthritic were studied through observing the changes of paw swelling

arthritis index at day 3

8

16

21 and 24

and levels of interleukin 1β(IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)after medication.Anti-inflammatory activity was studied by mice auricular swelling test induced by xylene and rat inflammation model induced by planted cotton ball in axillary

and acetic acid-induced writhing and hot-plate test in mice were used to study the analgesic activity. Result: Compared with models

the total flavonoids of L.camara could inhibit paw edema and arthritis index in RA rats significantly(P <0.05)

and the levels of serum IL-1β and TNF-α showed a marked decrease (P <0.05).The total flavonoids of L.camara could inhibit the mice ear edema induced by xylene

and could also decrease the weight of cotton ball granuloma. The total flavonoids of L.camara could increase the pain threshold value of the mice on the hot plate

and decrease the number of writhing in mice flowing ip administration of acetic acid. Conclusion: The total flavonoids of L.camara could ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis in RA rats

and have a good anti-inflammatory and analgesic action

and its effect has a close relation with the level of IL-1β and TNF-α in RA rats.