Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease characterized by synovial inflammation, joint swelling, and cartilage and bone destruction. Dracocephalum heterophyllum (DH) is a compound in traditional Chinese herbal medicine well known for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant activities. In the present work, the therapeutic effects of DH were investigated in collagen-induced arthritis. Arthritis severity was assessed by clinical score, X-ray, and histopathological features. Expression of inflammatory cytokines was detected by qPCR and ELISA whereas anti-type II collagen antibodies were determined by ELISA. DH treatment significantly alleviated clinical scores, synovial inflammation, joint swelling, and cartilage and bone destruction. DH also reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and decreased the serum levels of anti-type II collagen specific IgG antibodies in collagen-induced arthritis. The therapeutic effects of DH in collagen-induced arthritis provide evidence that DH might be a potential therapeutic drug for rheumatoid arthritis.

中文翻译：

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太子龙对胶原性关节炎的治疗作用

类风湿性关节炎 (RA) 是一种自身免疫性和炎症性疾病，其特征是滑膜炎症、关节肿胀以及软骨和骨破坏。Dracocephalum heterophyllum (DH) 是传统中草药中的一种化合物，以其抗炎、抗病毒和抗氧化活性而闻名。在目前的工作中，研究了 DH 在胶原诱导的关节炎中的治疗作用。通过临床评分、X 射线和组织病理学特征评估关节炎的严重程度。通过qPCR和ELISA检测炎性细胞因子的表达，而通过ELISA确定抗II型胶原抗体。DH 治疗显着减轻临床评分、滑膜炎症、关节肿胀以及软骨和骨破坏。DH 还减少了炎性细胞因子的产生，包括肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素6（IL-6）和白细胞介素1β（IL-1β），并降低胶原诱导性关节炎中抗II型胶原特异性IgG抗体的血清水平。DH 在胶原诱导的关节炎中的治疗作用提供了证据表明 DH 可能是类风湿性关节炎的潜在治疗药物。