Patent ID: 8168596

Claim:
A method of treating a disease associated with cartilage defect which is caused by an increased level of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in an articular site, said method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a cycloartane compound of Formula I at an amount effective to decrease the level of matrix metalloproteinase 1: wherein R 1 is H, OH, O-acetyl, O-xylopyranosyl, O-(2-actetylxylopyranosyl), O-(3-actetylxylopyranosyl), O-(2,3-diactetylxylopyranosyl), O-(2,4-diactetylxylopyranosyl), O-(2,3,4-triactetylxylopyranosyl), O-xylopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl, or O-xylopyranosyl-(1-2)-α-D-arabinopyranosyl; R2 is H, OH, O-acetyl, O-glucopyranosyl, or O-xylopyranosyl; R3 is H, OH, and O-acetyl; and R4 is