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March 14, 2026Open Access

Metabolomics study on anti-inflammatory effects of Guanjie Zhentong Babu plaster on collagen-induced arthritis rats

Key Points

To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Guanjie Zhentong Babu Plaster on collagen-induced arthritis in rats.
Rats developed collagen-induced arthritis were treated with Guanjie Zhentong Babu Plaster.
Histopathological changes assessed post-treatment using hematoxylin–eosin staining.
Serum metabolite profiles analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography.
The arthritis index was evaluated at multiple time points to assess treatment effects.
Inflammatory markers TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-10 were measured via immunohistochemistry and ELISA.
High-dose cold syndrome group exhibited significant improvement in arthritis index scores after 14 days (<P < 0.05).
Ankle joint swelling was significantly reduced in the high-dose group (<P < 0.01).
Marked restoration of arginine and purine metabolism pathways following treatment with Guanjie Zhentong Babu Plaster.
Decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-17, and increased IL-10 levels in treating groups compared to model group.

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Guanjie Zhentong Babu Plaster on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats and its potential mechanisms.MethodsRats were randomly divided into a normal control group and a experimental group. The experimental group was immunized with type II collagen emulsion to establish a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. After modeling, the animals were further divided into the following groups: cold syndrome model group, heat syndrome model group, high-dose cold syndrome group, high-dose heat syndrome group, low-dose cold syndrome group, positive control cold syndrome group, positive control heat syndrome group, and blank plaster cold syndrome group, with 8 rats in each group. Arthritis index (AI) scores were evaluated on day 0 (D0), day 4 (D4), day 7 (D7), and day 14 (D14) after drug administration. A plethysmometer was used to measure hind paw toe volume to assess ankle joint swelling. After completion of the pharmacodynamic evaluation, rats were sacrificed, and hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe histopathological changes in ankle joint tissues. Serum metabolite profiles were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-LTQ Orbitrap MS), and metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was conducted to explore the potential mechanisms of drug intervention. In addition, immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to investigate the changes in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-17, and IL-10.ResultsCompared with the cold syndrome model group, the high-dose cold syndrome group showed a significant improvement in AI scores at day 14 (P P P P P ConclusionGuanjie Zhentong Babu Plaster can improve inflammatory responses and joint damage in CIA rats with cold syndrome. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the arginine metabolic pathway, modulation of inflammatory factors, and restoration of inflammatory balance.

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