Effect of Orally Administered Channa striatus Extract Against Experimentally-Induced Osteoarthritis in Rabbits

Effects of oral administration of Channa striatus extract were evaluated in rabbits with experimentally-induced osteoarthritis (OA) in a stifle joint. Changes after the treatment were evaluated by radiography, and innervation of the synovial membranes was assessed by immunohistochemistry. There was a significant reduction in soft tissue swelling observed in radiographs for treated animals 9 weeks after treatment compared with that observed for untreated ones. There was significant improvement in the density of PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the synovial membrane of treated animals compared with that for controls. Results of this study suggest that oral administration of C. striatus extract can be a good alternative treatment for OA.