## 3 Results  
Significant time effect (\(p\) < 0.001) and time \(\times\) group interaction (\(p\) = 0.018) were observed in the body weight data of the rats (Figure 2). No significant difference in rat body weight was observed among the study groups at Week 0. One week after MIA administration, the O, T, G and G + T groups showed a significant (\(p\) < 0.05) or near significant reduction (\(p\) = 0.052, O vs. N) in body weight compared to the N group. The N group showed a significant linear increase in body weight (\(p\) < 0.05) starting from Week 1 but not the other groups. The body weight of the T, G and T + G groups started to increase significantly at Week 3 compared to Week 1 (\(p\) < 0.001). The increase was only significant for the O group at Week 4 compared to Week 3 (\(p\) < 0.001). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline
**Score** & **Structure** & **Cell** & **Safranin O Staining** \\ \hline
0 & Normal & Normal & Normal \\
1 & Surface irregularity & Diffuse hypercellularity & Slight reduction \\  & Pannus and surface & & \\
2 & irregularity & Cloning & Moderate reduction \\
3 & Clefts to the transitional zone & Hypocellularity & Severe reduction \\
4 & Clefts to the radial zone & n/a & No dye noted \\
5 & Clefts to the calcified zone & n/a & n/a \\
6 & Complete disorganisation & n/a & n/a \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Modified Mankin’s Scoring System. Significant time effect (\(p\) = 0.002) and not significant time \(\times\) group interaction (\(p\) = 0.225) were observed in the retention time of the rats on the inverted wire mesh (Figure 3). No significant difference in retention time was observed among most study groups at Week 0 (\(p\) > 0.05), but the retention time of the G group was significantly higher than the O (\(p\) = 0.011) and T groups (\(p\) = 0.031). One week after MIA administration, the retention times of the O (\(p\) = 0.004), T (\(p\) = 0.032) and G (\(p\) = 0.042) groups reduced significantly compared to the N group. The retention time of the T + G group was significantly higher than the O and T groups from Week 1 to 3 (\(p\) < 0.05). No significant changes in retention time were observed for the N, O and T groups across the study period (\(p\) > 0.05). The G group experienced a significant drop in retention time after osteoarthritis induction but rebounded significantly at Week 4 (\(p\) < 0.05). The retention time of the T + G group at Week 4 was also the longest compared to Weeks 1 to 3 (\(p\) < 0.05). Figure 2: Body weight (mean \(\pm\) standard error) of the rats throughout the study (**A**). The results of inter- (\(p\)-values) and intra-group comparisons (weeks that show a significant difference) obtained from mixed-design analysis of variance are depicted in (**B**). The values in the shaded area indicate a significant difference of the group at that week compared to other weeks (0–4). The significant difference is defined at \(p\) < 0.05. Abbreviation: N: normal control; O: osteoarthritis control; T: palm TRF-treated group; G: glucosamine sulphate-treated group; T + G: palm TRF + glucosamine sulphate-treated group. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference in structural (\(p\) = 0.002), matrix (\(p\) = 0.002), cellular (\(p\) = 0.012), and total scores (\(p\) = 0.003) among the study groups (Figure 4). The G (\(p\) = 0.001) and T + G groups (\(p\) = 0.001) showed significantly higher structural scores than the N group. The T and G groups showed significantly higher matrix scores than the N group (\(p\) = 0.001). The O group showed significantly higher cellular scores than the N group (\(p\) = 0.001). All rats with osteoarthritis had significantly higher total Mankin's score than the N group (\(p\) = 0.002 vs. O, T, G and T + G group). Serum COMP level was significantly higher in the O group than the N, T, G and T + G groups (\(p\) < 0.001). However, no significance was observed between the N and all treatment groups (\(p\) > 0.05), nor among the treatment groups (\(p\) > 0.05) (Figure 5).