This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide (SMP) on sodium iodoacetate-induced knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rats.The rat model of KOA was induced by injecting sodium iodoacetate into the knee joint.The rats were divided into a model group,low-dose and high-dose SMP groups (40 and 80 mg/kg),and a celecoxib group (20 mg/kg).Additionally,another 12 rats were selected as the sham operation group.Changes in relevant indexes were assessed after four weeks of continuous intervention.The results indicated that compared to the model group,rats in both low-dose and high-dose SMP groups exhibited a significant decrease in paw pressure score and gait score(P<0.05,P<0.01).Additionally,mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were significantly increased (P<0.01).The study also found that the pathological morphology of articular cartilage improved,as evidenced by a significant decrease in the Markin score (P<0.05,P<0.01).Furthermore,levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and C-terminal peptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) in serum,as well as mRNA expressions of Caspase-3 and B-lymphoblastoma-2 (Bcl-2) associated X protein (Bax) in articular cartilage were significantly decreased (P<0.05,P<0.01).On the other hand,osteocalcin (OCN) content in serum and Bcl-2 mRNA expression in articular cartilage were significantly increased (P<0.05,P<0.01).Moreover,the study observed a significant decrease in the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-1β (IL-1β),and IL-6 in synovial fluid,along with reduced expressions of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 (p-p38 MAPK) and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) in articular cartilage (P<0.05,P<0.01).These results indicated that SMP had a therapeutic effect on sodium iodoacetate-induced KOA in rats. This effect was achieved through the improvement of bone metabolism,anti-apoptotic properties,and the inhibition of inflammation via the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

"> Salvia miltiorrhiza , polysaccharide, bone metabolism, apoptosis, mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, knee osteoarthritis