The effect of Da-Fang-Feng-Tang on treatment of type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice

Da-Fang-Feng-Tang (DFFT), which is believed to be effective for treating hu man rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was given to DBA/1 mice at the onset of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) to examine its effect. Granules of the crude DFFT extract were administered by gastric gavage at a dose of 1.6 g/ kg/day for 12 weeks, starting the day CIA began. The levels of anticollagen IgG antibody were significantly decreased in the sera of the DFFT-treated group compared with the control group from weeks 2 to 7 after the onset of CIA. The severity of arthritis in the DFFT-treated group was markedly allev iated when compared with the control group. In addition, histological exami nation of the DFFT-treated group showed less cartilage and bone erosion. Th ese results suggest that administration of DFFT suppressed the development of CIA in mice and support the belief that DFFT is effective in treating hu man RA.