Abstract: To observe the plantar thickness of right posterior foot, the number of blood cells, the levels of IL-6 and IL-2 in rats with knee osteoarthritis（KOA）, the mechanism of Tenghuangjiangu capsule was explored. Sixty SD female rats were randomly divided into a shame control group, KOA medel group, a positive control group, Tenghuangjiangu capsule high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose grous. The modified Hulth method was used to make KOA models for 6 weeks. The rats in shame control group and model group were treated with normal saline, while the rats in Tenghuangjiangu capsule (high-dose, middle-dose, low-dose) groups received Tenghuangjiangu capsule (0.36, 0.18 and 0.09 g/kg), respectively, and which in the positive control group was treated with Xianlinggubao capsule (0.27 g/kg). After intervening, rats in each group were killed by femoral artery blood, and keen cartilage of rats were obtained, the pathological change was observed by HE staining method, and Mankin score was evaluated. The vernier caliper was adopted to observe the plantar thickness of right posterior foot, the whole blood automatic analyzer was applied to measure the number of blood cells, and the ELISA method was used to check the levels of IL-6 and IL-2. Results showed that the rats in Tenghuangjiangu capsule treatment group had the significant difference in decreasing the numbers of WBC, N/L, the level of IL-6 and the thickness of right rear fully plantar, while the rats in the middle group and in high group showed significant difference in dropping the Mankin score, the N number and increasing the L numbers; the level of IL-2 was decreased in high-group rats(P<0.05). The results indicated that Tenghuangjiangu capsule could relieve KOA pain and delay cartilage degeneration, which might be related to the decrease of the numbers of inflammatory cells and the expression of inflammatory cytokines.

Key words: Tenghuangjiangu capsule, knee osteoarthritis, rat, blood cell, inflammatory cytokines