Inhibition of cartilage degradation and suppression of PGE2 and MMPs expression by pomegranate fruit extract in a model of posttraumatic osteoarthritis

Akhtar N, Khan NM, Ashruf OS, Haqqi TM · Nutrition

The strongest whole-animal result in the topic, and it is oral rather than injected. Safranin-O loss and chondrocyte clustering were significantly reduced in the fed rabbits; MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-13 mRNA in cartilage were lower, synovial-fluid IL-6, MMP-13 and PGE2 were lower, aggrecan and COL2A1 mRNA higher, and fewer chondrocytes stained positive for apoptosis markers.

Population

New Zealand White rabbits with surgically transected anterior cruciate ligaments

Intervention

Pomegranate fruit extract in drinking water for 8 weeks after surgery, or from 2 weeks before surgery

Comparator

Water alone

Limitations

Rabbit post-traumatic OA, 8 weeks, from the laboratory that produced most of the pomegranate chondrocyte literature. The extract dose in water is not calibrated to any human intake.