Innovated formulation of TCM pangolin scales to develop a nova therapy of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Xuezhi Chen
Zihan Li
Jing Sun
Chengping Wen
Xuanming Hu
Haichang Li
Zhijun Xie
Huiqing Lv
Journal: Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2020)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Complete Freund’s adjuvant; Formulation development; Pangolin scale; Rheumatic arthritis.
Affiliations: College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hangzhou, 310053, China. Electronic address: ., State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, China., College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China., Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Afflicted to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210000, China., Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005, China., People Hospital of Jingning, Lishui, Zhejiang Province, 323500, China., College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  Pangolin scale (PS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating rheumatic arthritis (RA), and diverse medicinal formulations and therapeutic properties of PS have proved great potential to supplement conventional treatments in integrative medicine-based strategies. However, few studies have investigated how different PS formulations can impact the management of RA. Herein, we developed an innovative formulation of PS processed with vinegar (PSP) and evaluated it by comparing with the traditional decoction of PS (PSD) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NASID) (i.e., meloxicam) in a RA Sprague Dawley rat model, which is induced with a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by paw edema measurement, arthritic score, histopathological examination, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) production and the whole blood viscosity. PSP treatments (249.0 mg/kg.bw) from day 14-42 alleviated paw edema (P &lt; 0.001), arthritic index (score 0-1.5) and the inflammatory cell infiltration in the ankle joint, which may be attributed to inhibiting the production of TNF-α (P &lt; 0.01) and IL-1β (P &lt; 0.05) in the serum. Although PSP is with fewer efficacies than meloxicam, it outperformed traditional formulation PSD (830 mg/kg.bw) in all above mentioned metrics. Furthermore, PSP exhibited a unique effect on reducing whole blood viscosity (P &lt; 0.05) unobserved in meloxicam intervention. The present study demonstrates that PSP showed more efficient anti-inflammatory activity than PSD in CFA-induced RA rats, possibly due to the presence of higher levels of active ingredients. Thus, PSP may be a promising therapy for anti-inflammation in RA and can be integrated with conventional treatments, particularly for long-term RA management in an integrative treatment strategy. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
  Pangolin scales were purchased from Medical Pieces Co., Ltd., of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China). We learn from a [Corrigendum] that the authors are also affiliated to  School of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University . So if I understand correctly, staff at this institution bought parts of a highly endangered animal species (with the highest levels of protection under CITES), from the commercial branch of the same institution, in order to write what is essentially an advertisement for the use of that highly-endangered product in a herbal medicine. The staff see no conflict of interest.  PSP may be a promising therapy for long-term RA management in an integrative treatment strategy. PSP is not a promising therapy for long-term anything because advertisements like this are contributing to the extinction of the primary ingredient. The publisher is complicit in this extinction. ,