Abstract Context Ginsenoside compound K (CK) has anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and myelosuppressive protective effects. Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in combination therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objective To evaluate the effects of combination therapy of CK and MTX on anaemia and anti-arthritis in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) rats. Materials and methods AA was induced in rats by Complete Freund’s adjuvant, and divided into five groups (n = 10): normal, AA, CK 80 mg/kg, combination therapy (80 mg/kg CK combined with 0.5 mg/kg MTX), and MTX 0.5 mg/kg. From day 12, CK (once a day for 15 days) or MTX (once every 3 days, five times) were intragastrically administered. Results Combination therapy showed increased haemoglobin to 148.5 ± 10.1 g/L compared with AA (129.8 ± 11.7 g/L) and MTX (128.8 ± 18.4 g/L), and decreased reticulocytes in peripheral blood to 4.9 ± 1.1% compared with MTX (9.3 ± 3.3%). In combination therapy group, paw swelling decreased to 5.6 ± 4.3 mL compared with CK (9.4 ± 3.9 mL) and MTX (13.5 ± 7.4 mL), and swollen joint count decreased to 1.4 ± 0.8 compared with CK (2.1 ± 1.0) and MTX (2.4 ± 1.2) at day 24. Combination therapy showed decreased IL-6 to 25.1 ± 17.2 pg/mL compared with MTX (44.9 ± 4.8 pg/mL), and decreased IL-17 to 5.8 ± 3.9 pg/mL compared with MTX (10.7 ± 4.2 pg/mL). Conclusion The anti-anaemia effect of CK deserves further study, and CK can be a candidate effective drug for combined treatment in RA with anaemia.

中文翻译：

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人参皂苷K与甲氨蝶呤联合治疗可有效消除佐剂性关节炎大鼠贫血和降低疾病活动度

摘要 背景人参皂苷化合物K (CK) 具有抗炎、免疫调节和骨髓抑制保护作用。甲氨蝶呤 (MTX) 广泛用于类风湿性关节炎 (RA) 的联合治疗。目的评价CK与MTX联合治疗对佐剂性关节炎（AA）大鼠贫血和抗关节炎的影响。材料与方法 用完全弗氏佐剂诱导大鼠AA，分为5组（n=10）：正常组、AA组、CK 80 mg/kg、联合治疗（80 mg/kg CK联合0.5 mg/kg MTX）和 MTX 0.5 毫克/公斤。从第 12 天起，灌胃施用 CK（每天一次，共 15 天）或 MTX（每 3 天一次，五次）。结果 联合治疗显示，与 AA (129.8 ± 11.7 g/L) 和 MTX (128.8 ± 18.4 g/L) 相比，血红蛋白增加至 148.5 ± 10.1 g/L，与 MTX (9.3 ± 3.3%) 相比，外周血中的网织红细胞减少至 4.9 ± 1.1%。在联合治疗组中，与 CK (9.4 ± 3.9 mL) 和 MTX (13.5 ± 7.4 mL) 相比，爪肿胀减少至 5.6 ± 4.3 mL，与 CK (2.1 ± 1.0) 和 MTX 相比，肿胀关节计数减少至 1.4 ± 0.8 (2.4 ± 1.2) 在第 24 天。与 MTX (44.9 ± 4.8 pg/mL) 相比，联合治疗显示 IL-6 降低至 25.1 ± 17.2 pg/mL，与 MTX 相比，IL-17 降低至 5.8 ± 3.9 pg/mL (10.7 ± 4.2 pg/mL)。结论 CK的抗贫血作用值得进一步研究，CK可作为RA合并贫血的候选有效药物。在第 24 天，与 CK (2.1 ± 1.0) 和 MTX (2.4 ± 1.2) 相比，肿胀关节计数降低至 1.4 ± 0.8。与 MTX (44.9 ± 4.8 pg) 相比，联合治疗显示 IL-6 降低至 25.1 ± 17.2 pg/mL /mL)，并且与 MTX (10.7 ± 4.2 pg/mL) 相比，IL-17 降低至 5.8 ± 3.9 pg/mL。结论 CK的抗贫血作用值得进一步研究，CK可作为RA合并贫血的候选有效药物。在第 24 天，与 CK (2.1 ± 1.0) 和 MTX (2.4 ± 1.2) 相比，肿胀关节计数降低至 1.4 ± 0.8。与 MTX (44.9 ± 4.8 pg) 相比，联合治疗显示 IL-6 降低至 25.1 ± 17.2 pg/mL /mL)，并且与 MTX (10.7 ± 4.2 pg/mL) 相比，IL-17 降低至 5.8 ± 3.9 pg/mL。结论 CK的抗贫血作用值得进一步研究，CK可作为RA合并贫血的候选有效药物。