Evaluation of the novel avocado and soybean unsaponifiable Arthrocen to alter joint pain and inflammation in a rat model of osteoarthritis

Authors
R. Goudarzi, A. Reid, J. McDougall

Lab
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Journal
PLOS One

Abstract
Background
Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables such as Arthrocen have been reported to reduce cartilage catabolism and chondrocytic synthesis of inflammatory mediators associated with osteoarthritis (OA). While there is some clinical evidence that avocado/soybean unsaponifiables can reduce OA pain, no preclinical studies have corroborated this observation. The present study determined whether addition of an avocado/soybean unsaponifiable (Arthrocen) to the drinking water of OA rats reduced direct and referred joint pain.
Methods
OA was induced in male Wistar rats by intra-articular injection of sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA: 0.3mg) and animals were allowed to recover for 14 days. Arthrocen was added to the drinking water which was available to animals ad libitum. On day 30, joint pain was assessed by dynamic incapacitance while referred pain was determined by von Frey hair algesiometry.
ResultsConclusions
These data indicate that Arthrocen has the potential to reduce joint inflammation and pain associated with end-stage OA.

BIOSEB Instruments Used:
Dynamic Weight Bearing 2.0 (BIO-DWB-DUAL)