Abstract:
Objective: Resveratrol (trans-3,4¢,5-trihydroxystilbene)
is a phytoalexin found in high concentration in the
skins of grapes and red wines which has been shown to have
antiinflammatory, anticancerogen and antioxidant properties.
Resveratrol is a potent and specific inhibitor of nuclear factor
kappa B (NF-kB). Resveratrol also inhibits COX-2 gene
expressionand enzyme activity. We aimed to determine the in
vivo effects of intra-articular injections of resveratrol on cartilage
and synovium in an experimental osteoarthritis (OA)
model in rabbits.
Methods: As OA model, rabbits underwent unilateral anterior
cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Five weeks after
test group was injected with 10 mMol/kg resveratrol in
dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) in the knees once daily for two
weeks and as the control group at the same time DMSO was
injected into the knees. All rabbits were killed one week after
the last injection. Cartilage tissue and synovium were evaluated
with a histological scoring system.
Results: Histological evaluation of cartilage tissue by H&E
staining revealed a significantly reduced average cartilage
tissue destruction score of 1.7 in the resveratrol group versus
2.8 in the control group (p = 0.016). Loss of matrix proteoglycan
content in cartilage was also much lower, as determined
by safranin O staining. Scores of synovial inflammation
didn’t show difference between groups (1,3 vs 2,2;
p = 0.057).
Conclusion: A characteristic parameter in arthritis is the progressive
loss of articular cartilage. This study suggests that
intraarticular injections of resveratrol starting at the onset of
disease may protect cartilage against the development of
experimentally induced OA.
