Application of Clinical Anti-Arthralgia Formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine to Arthritis

This project will collect clinical formulas of traditional Chinese medicine for arthritis, and explore the underlying formulating principles according to the medical philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine. Then the formulas will be measured by in vitro and in vivo anti-arthritic models. The results can be used to explain the combination principles of herbs in formula and the correlation between arthritis and arthalgia (Bi-Syndrome痺證). On the other hand, we will use the photochemistry chromatography technique to isolate the active marker substances from the active formula and analyzes the finger print by HPLC. The results will be used as the quality reference of the active formula. The project design was from clinical to basic research, we expect to develop a formula capable to protect joints. The study will involve three core technology including “National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan and systematic literature review and analysis”, “the experimental design of pharmacological study” and “quality analysis of traditional Chinese medicine”.Aims and strategies are as fallows: Aim1：Explore clinical formulas of traditional Chinese medicine for arthritis and their relationship with arthritis. Strategy: 1 National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan and literature mining. 2. LPS and IL-1induced THP-1, RAW 264.7 and SW1353 cell produced inflammatory cytokines. 3. collagenase II and collagen induced arthritis in animal model. Aim2：Explore the combination principles of herbs in formula including the nature products and bio-activity. Strategy: 1 analyzes the finger print of the formula by HPLC. 2. Bio-assay as the above Aim3：Isolate the active marker substances from the formula and explore the preventive mechanism and toxicity. Strategy: as the above.