Abstract: Aim The relationshiPbetween the therapeutic effect of TEA (total extract of astragalosides) on adjuvant arthritic (AA)rat s and its antioxidative effects were studied.Methods The volume of non-injected hind paw of AA rat s and malondialdehyde (MAD) content of arthritic synoviocytes from AA rats were measured and the proliferative responses of fibroblast,the level of superoxide anion(O₂^-)and the hydroxyl radical (-OH)generated in vitro were detected. Results The anti-inflammatory effect of TEA might be related to its antioxidative activity.In vitro low-level oxidative stress promo ted the proliferative responses of fibro blast in rats synovium,which was marked by inhibited by TEA in a concent rat ion-dependant manner.Further study showed that TEA could inhibit NBT reduction induced by both xanthine-xanthine oxidase and no n-enzyme generated O₂^-,but the inhibitory effect of this compound on activity of xanthine oxidase was obtained only at high concent ration (more than 80μg·ml^-1).It was also found that TEA could dose-dependantly inhibit the hydroxylation of benzoic acid induced by Fenton react ion gene rated ·OH.Conclusion TEA has significant therapeutic effects on AA rats,which might be related to its antioxidative effects

Key words: oxygen free radical, fibroblast of synovium, synoviocyte