Punicalin alleviates TNF-α- and IL-1β-induced chondrocyte dysfunction and cartilage metabolism via mediating FOXO3 signaling axis

Yang L, Fan C, Shu T, Wang S · Journal of Food Biochemistry

Cytokine exposure phosphorylated FOXO3 and drove it out of the nucleus; punicalin blocked that shuttling, reduced chondrocyte apoptosis, and normalised the abnormal expansion of the growth plate and hypertrophic zone in the mice.

Population

Chondrocytes and mice stimulated with IL-1β and TNF-α

Intervention

Punicalin, a hydrolyzable tannin from pomegranate

Comparator

Cytokine stimulation alone

Limitations

Cell and mouse work published ahead of print; a growth-plate model is developmental rather than osteoarthritic.