Purpose: The aim of the experiment was to explore the effect of eriodictyol (ERI) on arthritis.
Methods: We established a rat model of collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (CIA) using type II collagen plus Freund’s complete adjuvant. We evaluated the degree of paw swelling, joint pathology, inflammatory cytokine levels, and the Akt/hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α signaling pathway in the CIA rats.
Results: ERI significantly ameliorated joint swelling; improved joint pathology; and suppressed the release of interleukin-6, interleukin-1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Moreover, ERI inhibited the Akt/HIF-1α pathway in the joints of rats and in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264.7 cells.
Conclusion: ERI ameliorated arthritis in a manner involving the Akt/HIF-1α signaling pathway.
Keywords: Eriodictyol, arthritis, inflammation, Akt/HIF-1α pathway