Page 290 - 2025中醫藥與天然藥物聯合學術研討會-中醫藥與天然藥物的挑戰Ｘ機遇與未來大會手冊

CM-23

Effect and possible mechanism of HUPA on FCA-induced rheumatoid

arthritis model in mice

,1
Ching-Wen Chang,* Y u -Chin Lin 2

1 Department of Cosmetic Applications and Management, MacKay Junior College of
Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei 112021, Taiwan
2 Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Foods on Health Applications, Da-Yeh University,
Changhua 515006, Taiwan
* E-mail: s472@mail.mkc.edu.tw

Abstract
This project aimed to establish a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model in mice induced by
Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of huperzine A
(HupA). RA is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis, pannus formation,
cartilage erosion, and bone destruction. Its underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear, and
current treatments, although effective, are limited by significant side effects. As the disease
progresses, patients often suffer from joint pain, swelling, deformity, disability, organ
dysfunction, and mental disorders, making RA a major challenge in global medicine. Inhibiting
the inflammatory response has been recognized as an important strategy to prevent disease
progression. Lycopodium serratum var. longipetiolatum, a traditional Taiwanese herbal
medicine, has long been used for its analgesic effects. HupA, one of its active ingredients, is
widely studied for Alzheimer’s disease and has also been reported to exert analgesic and anti-
inflammatory effects. In this study, mice with CFA-induced RA exhibited inflammation and
swelling in the spleen, ankle joints, and paws, confirming successful model establishment.
Treatment with HupA (100 μg/kg) significantly reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and
NO in joint tissues, thereby alleviating both local and systemic inflammatory responses.
Histological analyses showed that induced groups developed varying degrees of chronic
inflammation, villous hyperplasia, and granulomatous dermatitis, whereas no pathological
abnormalities were observed in the heart, kidneys, or spleen. These findings suggest that HupA
has the potential to mitigate RA-related inflammation and joint damage.

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis; Complete Freund's adjuvant; Huperzine A; anti-inflammatory
effect