Chondroprotective action of tart cherry in the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) rat model of osteoarthritis

Objective: To investigate the dose-dependent effects of whole tart cherry in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) induced rat model of osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: A total of forty, 45-day-old female CD rats were used for study. Thirty rats were injected with MIA to induce joint destruction and randomized into three groups of 10 animals each. Rats were fed a casein-based diet with two groups receiving whole tart cherry powder at 5% and 10% respectively for 48 days. Fasted blood samples and tissues of interest were analyzed. Results: Histological analysis of knee joint determined significant worsening of damage between control and MIA groups. There was a slight increase in TIMP-1 concentration. The introduction of tart cherry resulted in IL-10 levels which emulated non-MIA group level. Conclusions: Introduction of tart cherry powder achieved some reductions in pro-, and anti-inflammatory markers, but statistical significance between untreated MIA induced rats and those given tart cherry powder was with observed in aggrecan only.