Abstract: Background　Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）compound preparations can lower the uric acid and relieve symptoms of acute gouty arthritis（AGA），a disease caused by multiple factors，through exerting multi-target effects of multiple ingredients，but the specific mechanism of action is not completely clear. Objective　To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of action of Danggui Niantong Decoction（DND）against AGA. Methods　This experiment was conducted from 17 August to 7 October 2020. After 1 week of adaptive feeding，30 numbered male SPF C57BL/6 mice aged 10-12 weeks were equally randomized into control，solvent and DND groups，receiving phosphate buffer，3% suspension of monosodium urate，and 3% suspension of monosodium urate injected at the area around deep tarsometatarsal joints of both hind paws，respectively，for modeling. After modeling，control and solvent groups received intragastric administration of 0.9% sodium chloride injection for 1 week，while DND group received intragastric administration of DND solution for 1 week. Comparison was conducted in the three groups，involving body weight before and after treatment，increased percentage of hind paws thickness 6 hours after modeling and 1 to 7 days after treatment，relative mRNA expression quantities of IL-1β，TNF-α and iNOS in the injected hind paw tissues and serum uric acid concentration 7 days after treatment. Results　No significant inter-or intra-group difference in body weight was found in the three groups before or after treatment（P>0.05）. There was significant interaction in the increased percentage of hind paws thickness between intervention time and method（P<0.001）. The main effects of intervention time and method were both significant in the increased percentage of hind paws thickness（P<0.001）. Increased percentage of hind paws thickness in solvent group or DND group was thicker than that in control group 6 hours after modeling and 1 to 7 days after treatment，so was in DND group compared to solvent group except for the time point of the 6th day after treatment（P<0.05）. The control group had lower relative mRNA expression quantities of IL-1β，TNF-α and iNOS in the injected hind paw tissues than other two groups 7 days after treatment（P<0.01）. DND group had lower relative mRNA expression quantities of IL-1β，TNF-α and iNOS in the injected hind paw tissues compared to solvent group 7 days after treatment（P<0.01）. Serum uric acid concentration in DND group was lower than that of other two groups 7 days after treatment（P<0.01）. Conclusion　As an effective and safe prescription for multiple core issues of AGA，DND can effectively relief the degree of inflammatory swelling of the paw of AGA mice，down-regulate the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β，TNF-α and iNOS，and reduce the serum uric acid concentration.

Key words: Arthritis, gouty；Danggui Niantong powders；Danggui Niantong Decoction；Treatment outcome；Animal experimentation；Mice, inbred C57BL

摘要： 背景　急性痛风性关节炎（AGA）是多因素作用的结果，中药复方以多成分、多靶点作用而在降尿酸、缓解AGA症状等方面具有独特疗效，但具体作用机制尚不完全明确。目的　探讨当归拈痛汤治疗AGA的疗效和作用机制。方法　本实验于2020-08-17至2020-10-07实施。适应性饲养1周后将30只10~12周龄SPF级雄性C57BL/6小鼠编号并采用随机数字表法分为对照组、溶剂组和DGNTT组，每组10只。对照组小鼠在双侧足掌深层跖跗关节周围注射磷酸盐缓冲液，溶剂组和DGNTT组小鼠在双侧足掌深层跖跗关节周围注射3%尿酸单钠悬液诱导造模；造模完成后对照组和溶剂组小鼠予以0.9%氯化钠溶液灌胃1周，DGNTT组小鼠予以当归拈痛汤中药液灌胃1周。比较三组小鼠治疗前后体质量，造模前、造模后6 h、治疗后1~7 d足掌厚度增长百分比，治疗后7 d注射足部组织白介素1β（IL-1β）、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）mRNA相对表达量及血尿酸浓度。结果　三组小鼠治疗前后组间、组内体质量比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。时间与方法在足掌厚度增长百分比上存在交互作用（P<0.001）；时间、方法在足掌厚度增长百分比上主效应显著（P<0.001）。溶剂组和DGNTT组小鼠造模后6 h及治疗后1~7 d足掌厚度增长百分比大于对照组，DGNTT组小鼠造模后6 h及治疗后1~5 d、7 d足掌厚度增长百分比小于溶剂组（P<0.05）。溶剂组和DGNTT组小鼠治疗后7 d注射足部组织IL-1β、TNF-α、iNOS mRNA相对表达量高于对照组，DGNTT组小鼠治疗后7 d注射足部组织IL-1β、TNF-α、iNOS mRNA相对表达量低于溶剂组（P<0.01）。DGNTT组小鼠治疗后7 d血尿酸浓度低于对照组、溶剂组（P<0.01）。结论　当归拈痛汤可有效缓解AGA小鼠足爪炎性肿胀程度，下调炎性因子IL-1β、TNF-α、iNOS mRNA的表达，降低血尿酸浓度，是能够解决AGA多个核心问题的有效方剂且安全性较高。

关键词: 关节炎, 痛风性；当归拈痛散；当归拈痛汤；治疗结果；动物实验；小鼠, 近交C57BL