The effect of moxibustion on plasma hydroperoxide in the collagen-induced arthritis mice

Abstract

It is known that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) affected several types of diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. We reported that moxibustion (MOX) applied to the Meimon (GV4) acupoint delayed the onset and suppressed symptoms in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. Present study was undertaken to examine the effect of MOX on the production of ROS by measuring hydroperoxide content in plasma of CIA mice. DBA/1J mice were divided into four groups. CIA group: immunized with bovine typeII collagen, CIA+MOX group: immunized and applied moxibustion, with 1mg moxa cone 5 times a day to the Meimon(GV4) acupoint 3 times per week for 2 weeks, Control group: no immunization and no treatment, and Control+MOX group: applied moxbustion only. We evaluated the severity of arthritis by the arthritis score method and measured plasma hydroperoxide level by d-ROM test. Arthritis score was gradually increased from day28 and peaked on day35 in CIA and CIA+MOX group. The score in CIA+MOX group was significantly suppressed compared to CIA group. The level of hydroperoxide in CIA group was highest in all the groups on day28 and 35, while the level of hydroperoxide in CIA+MOX group was significantly lower than that in CIA group. These results suggested that moxibustion might suppress ROS production and severity of arthritis symptoms in CIA mice. [J Physiol Sci. 2007;57 Suppl:S116]