Preventive and Therapeutic Effect of Artesunate on Arthritis Induced by Bonvin Type II Collagen in Rats

Background and Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that causes joint deformities and even complete loss of joint function. Artesunate (ART) is an active ingredient in Chinese herbal medicines, usually used to treat malaria. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Artesunate on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats, along with its efficacy and underlying mechanism.Methods: The CIA rat model was created using bovine type II collagen and incomplete F-style adjuvants. The rats with CIA were divided into three groups: the Model group, the tripterygium hypoglaucum hutch (THH) group, and the ART group. The model group received 0.9% normal saline, the THH group was given a daily dose of 150 mgkg(-1) THH, and the ART group was given a daily dose of 10 mgkg(-1) artesunate for 30 days. The negative control (NC) group received only an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline. The body weight, arthritis index, and paw thickness of the rats were recorded throughout the treatment. The levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 17A (IL-17A) in the serum of rats with CIA were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, the indices of vital immune organs, including the thymus and spleen, were calculated. The hindpaw of each group was collected and subjected to histopathological examinations using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, safranin O-fast green staining and X-ray methods.Results: The arthritis index, the thickness of the foot, and the contents of IL-17A in the CIA model group were significantly increased compared to the NC group (p < 0.05). Moreover, synovial hyperplasia and cartilage damage were significantly decreased in the ART group (p < 0.05). However, the immune organ index and serum TNF-alpha level did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Additionally, the serum IL-17A level was significantly lower than the model group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Artesunate exerts a protective effect on joint damage in rats with CIA, which may reduce inflammation and delay the development of the disease by inhibiting the secretion of IL-17A.