骨关节炎是一种慢性炎症性疾病，由于缺乏根本性治疗方法，主要目标是缓解疼痛和预防软骨损伤。锯缘洋五加和牛膝是以其出色的抗炎特性而闻名的草本植物。本研究旨在确认锯缘洋五加和牛膝混合提取物作为改善骨关节炎的功能原料的潜力，通过抗炎作用对巨噬细胞和MIA诱导的动物关节炎进行实验。在由脂多糖（LPS）引起的巨噬细胞炎症中，处理锯缘洋五加和牛膝混合物抑制了NF-κB和丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）的活性，从而抑制了炎性细胞因子肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）和白细胞介素6（IL-6），炎性因子PGE2、MMP-2和MMP-9以及一氧化氮（NO）的产生。此外，在通过MIA（单碘乙酸钠）引起的关节炎动物模型中，给予锯缘洋五加和牛膝混合物可以降低炎症细胞因子TNF-α和IL-6、炎性因子前列腺素E2（PGE2）、基质金属蛋白酶2（MMP-2）和NO的血液水平。通过这些抗炎作用，确认了MIA诱导疼痛减轻（临床指数恢复，负重增加，足部面积和宽度增加）、半月板损伤的恢复，组织浸润中软骨组织或炎症细胞的减少，以及蛋白聚糖层的恢复。因此，认为锯缘洋五加和牛膝混合物具有促进关节健康的潜力作为功能性原料。

Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and, due to the lack of fundamental treatment, the main objective is to alleviate pain and prevent cartilage damage. Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai are herbal plants known for their excellent anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study is to confirm the potential of a mixture extract of Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai as a functional raw material for improving osteoarthritis through anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages and MIA-induced arthritis experimental animals. In macrophages inflamed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), treatment of Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai mixture inhibits NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities, thereby inhibiting inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), inflammatory factors PGE2, MMP-2, and MMP-9, and nitric oxide (NO) was reduced. In addition, in an animal model of arthritis induced by MIA (monosodium iodoacetate), administration of Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai mixture reduced blood levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, inflammatory factors prostaglandin E2(PGE2), matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), and NO. Through these anti-inflammatory effects, MIA-induced pain reduction (recovery of clinical index, increase in weight bearing, and increase in area and width of the foot), recovery of meniscus damage, loss of cartilage tissue or inflammatory cells in tissue infiltration reduction, and recovery of the proteglycan layer were confirmed. Therefore, it is considered that Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai mixture has the potential as a functional raw material that promotes joint health.