Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that results in the
destruction of cartilage. Edible Bird's Nest (EBN) extract contains important
components, which can reduce the progression of osteoarthritis and helps in the
regeneration of the cartilage.
The present study aimed to investigate the
effect of EBN extract on the catabolic and anabolic activities of the human
articular chondrocytes (HACs) isolated from the knee joint of patients with OA.
Methods: A single batch of EBN extract was prepared with hot-water
extraction and coded as HMG. HACs were isolated from the knee joint cartilage
removed during surgery.
The optimum concentration of HMG for HAC cultures
was determined using MTT assay. The effect of HMG on the catabolic and anabolic
genes'expression in HACs was measured by real-time PCR.
The total amount
of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was determined by ELISA method, and the
total sulphated glycosaminoglycan (GAGs) production was quantified by
1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay.
Results: MTT assay showed 0.50%
- 1.00% HMG supplementation promoted HACs proliferation. HMG supplementation was
able to reduce the catabolic genes'expression in cultured HACs such as matrix
metalloproteinases (MMP1 &MMP3), Interleukin 1, 6 and 8 (IL-1, IL-6
&IL-8), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase
(iNOS).
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was significantly reduced in
HAC cultures supplemented with HMG. With regard to anabolic activity assessment,
type II collagen, Aggrecan and SOX-9 gene expression as well as sGAG production
was increased in the HMG supplemented groups.
Conclusion: Edible Bird's
Nest extract coded as HMG demonstrated chondro-protection ability on human
articular chondrocytes in vitro.
It reduced catabolic activities and
increased cartilage extracellular matrix synthesis. It is concluded that HMG is
a potential agent in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Author: Kien-Hui
ChuaTing-Hun LeeKamini NagandranNor Hamdan Md YahayaChew-Tin LeeEddie Tan
TjihRamlan Abdul Aziz
Credits/Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative
Medicine 2013, 13:19
Original article is here.
