Effect of hyaluronic acid and polysaccharides from Opuntiaficus indica (L.) cladodes on the metabolism of human chondrocyte cultures

Conventional medicatons in articular disease are often effective for symptom relief, but they can also cause significant side effects and do not slow the progression of the disease. Several natural substances have been shown to be effective as non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs at relieving the symptoms of osteoauthritis (OA), and preliminary evidence suggests that some of these compounds may exert a favourable influence on the course of the disease. In this study, we assa the anti-inflammatory/chondroprotective effect of some lyophilised extracts obtained from Opuntia ficus indica (L.) cladodes and of hyalurcnic acid (HA) on the production of key molecules released during chronic inflammatory events such as nitric oxide (NO), glycosaminoglycans (GAG(2)), Prostaglandins (PGE,) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human chondrocyte culture, stimulated with proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). Further the antioxidant effect of these extracts was evaluated in vitro employing the bleaching of the stable l,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH test). All the extracts tested A this study showed an interesting profile in active compounds. Particularly some of these extracts were characterized by polyphenolic and polysacharidic species. In vitro results pointed out that the extracts of Opuntia ficus indica cladodes were able to contrast the harmful effects of IL-1 beta Our data showed the protective effect of the extracts of Opuntia ficus indica cladodes in cartilage alteration, which appears greater than that elicited by hyaluronic acid (HA) commonly employed as visco-supplementation in the treatment of joint diseases. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.