Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the effects of the sand therapy of Uyghur Traditional Medicine on cytokines,such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), nitric oxide(NO) of the rabbit experimental knee osteoarthritis. Methods27 rabbits were injected papain into the joint space of right knee, and divided randomly into three groups. 15 d after the articular injection, the rabbits of group Ⅰ were treated with the sand therapy, the rabbits of group Ⅱ were treated with fenbid, and Ⅲ group accepted no treatment for the blank control.15 d after treatment, the serum and the douche fluid of the diseased joints were obtained to measure the level of IL-1β,TNF-α and NO. The synovium and the cartilage was observed histopathologically.ResultsCompare with group Ⅱ and Ⅲ, the pathological changes of cartilage and synovitis in group Ⅰ lighten significantly. Compare with groupⅢ,the level of IL-1β, TNF-α in articular douche fluid and NO in serum of group Ⅰ and Ⅱ decreased significantly. ConclusionThe sand therapy can decrease the level of cytokines in the focus joints, which may play a role of treatment in osteoarthritis.

Key words: Uyghur Traditional Medicine, sand therapy, osteoarthritis, cytokines