Fig. 6

Effects of GSZD on the severity of arthritis in AIA rats. a Macroscopic evidence of arthritis such as redness or swelling was obviously observed in AIA rats of the model group, while doses of 18.6 g/(kg day) GSZD and 0.2 mg/(kg day) MTX significantly reduced the severity of arthritis in AIA rats; b Doses of 4.65–18.6 g/(kg day) GSZD and 0.2 mg/(kg day) MTX significantly reduced the mean arthritis score of AIA rats; c Doses of 4.65–18.6 g/(kg day) GSZD and 0.2 mg/(kg day) MTX significantly reduced the arthritis incidence of AIA rats; d Doses of 4.65–18.6 g/(kg day) GSZD and 0.2 mg/(kg day) MTX significantly reduced the percentage of arthritis limbs of AIA rats; e Doses of 9.3 g/(kg day) and 18.6 g/(kg day) GSZD, and 0.2 mg/(kg day) MTX effectively extended the time of arthritis first appeared of AIA rats. Data are represented as the mean ± SD. ^#P < 0.05, comparison with the normal control (Con). *, **, and ***, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively, comparison with the model control (Mod)