The aim of this study was to explore the effects of ethanol extracts from Portulaca oleracea L. (ePO) on joint inflammation and to explain the underlying mechanisms. A joint inflammation mouse model was constructed by injecting zymosan, and the Von Frey method was employed and the joint thickness measured. The numbers of leukocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes were counted in the joint cavity and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was assessed by joint histopathological analysis. The mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and their secretion levels were determined by specific ELISAs. Pre-treatment with ePO inhibited articular mechanical hyperalgesia and edema and ameliorated the recruitment of mononuclear neutrophils and leukocytes. In addition, pre-treatment with ePO improved pathological alternations in the joint tissues by reducing the number of inflammatory cells. Pre-treatment with ePO regulated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-related proteins and thereby inhibited oxidative stress. In addition, ePO inhibited NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-related genes (NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1 and pro-IL-1ß), modulated inflammatory cytokines and the activation of NF-κB. ePO attenuated zymosan-induced joint inflammation by regulating oxidative stress, NLRP3 inflammasome, and NF-κB.

本研究的目的是探讨马齿苋乙醇提取物的作用L. (ePO) 关于关节炎症并解释其潜在机制。注射酵母聚糖构建关节炎症小鼠模型，采用Von Frey法测定关节厚度。计数关节腔内白细胞、中性粒细胞和单核细胞的数量，并通过关节组织病理学分析评估炎症细胞的浸润情况。炎性细胞因子的 mRNA 水平通过定量 RT-PCR 测定，其分泌水平通过特异性 ELISA 测定。用 ePO 预处理可抑制关节机械性痛觉过敏和水肿，并改善单核中性粒细胞和白细胞的募集。此外，用 ePO 预处理通过减少炎症细胞的数量来改善关节组织的病理变化。用 ePO 预处理可调节核因子红细胞 2 相关因子 2 (Nrf2) 相关蛋白，从而抑制氧化应激。此外，ePO 抑制含有 3 个 (NLRP3) 炎性体相关基因（NLRP3、ASC、pro-caspase-1 和 pro-IL-1ß）的 NLR 家族 pyrin 结构域，调节炎性细胞因子和 NF-κB 的激活。ePO 通过调节氧化应激、NLRP3 炎性体和 NF-κB 来减轻酵母聚糖诱导的关节炎症。