Ruta graveolens (Rue) is a well-known medicinal plant having anti-inflammatory and other healing properties. This contains many active phytochemicals such as coumarins which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. The present study was carried out to evaluate the therapeutic potential of a newly isolated coumarin derivative from rue plant, 8-methoxy-chromen-2-one (MCO) in the collagen induced arthritic (CIA) rat model. MCO showed inhibition of cytokines and NF-κB in LPS stimulated J774 cells which prompted its possible use in animal. In CIA, arthritic index and arthritic score reduced markedly within 15 days of MCO treatment at doses of 2 mg and 20 mg per kg body weight. Alleviation of joint damage in CIA animals on treatment with MCO was evident from radiographic and histological data. Behavioral studies by open field tests also showed convalescence in the MCO treated CIA rats. Further, escalated plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and also nitric oxide reduced significantly with the treatment. All these results indicate the therapeutic efficacy of MCO and its possible use as an anti-arthritic drug.

芸香（Rue）是具有抗炎和其他愈合特性的众所周知的药用植物。它包含许多具有抗炎和抗癌活性的活性植物化学物质，如香豆素。进行本研究以评估从粗制植物中新分离出的香豆素衍生物8-甲氧基-铬-2--2-酮（MCO）在胶原诱导的关节炎（CIA）大鼠模型中的治疗潜力。MCO在LPS刺激的J774细胞中显示出对细胞因子和NF-κB的抑制作用，提示其可能在动物中使用。在CIA中，以每千克体重2 mg和20 mg的剂量进行MCO治疗后15天内，关节炎指数和关节炎评分明显降低。从影像学和组织学数据可以明显看出，用MCO治疗可以减轻CIA动物的关节损伤。通过野外试验进行的行为研究还显示，在MCO治疗的CIA大鼠中恢复期。此外，随着治疗的增加，促炎细胞因子TNF-α，IL-1β和IL-6以及一氧化氮的血浆水平升高。所有这些结果表明MCO的治疗功效及其作为抗关节炎药的可能用途。