Table 4.
Pathological features of cartilage
| Group (n = 8) | Cartilage layer damage depth | Cartilage surface damage range | Proliferation of fibrous tissue | Inflammatory cell infiltration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arthritic | 2.38 ± 0.52 | 2.50 ± 0.53 | 2.50 ± 0.53 | 2.75 ± 0.46 |
| BQ high dose | 1.13 ± 0.64**** | 1.13 ± 0.35**** | 1.25 ± 0.46*** | 2.13 ± 0.35* |
| BQ moderate dose | 0.88 ± 0.35**** | 0.75 ± 0.46**** | 1.13 ± 0.35**** | 1.25 ± 0.46****, & |
| MTX | 1.13 ± 0.35**** | 0.88 ± 0.64**** | 1.25 ± 0.46*** | 1.75 ± 0.46*** |
Data are presented as mean ± SD
BQ Bi-Qi capsule, MTX methotrexate
Significant effect of treatment compared to arthritic group, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001; compared to BQ high-dose group, &P < 0.05