Multi Omics Driven Polypharmacology for Osteoarthritis Joint Regeneration

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative condition of major joints with no effective cure. Yograj Guggulu (YG) is a well-established polyherbal formulation in Indian traditional medicine for the management of joint disorders. However, its mode of action remains unclear. We integrated multi omics network analysis with a rat model to investigate the effects of oral administration of YG on osteoarthritic joints. YG administration significantly alleviated pain and improved joint function. Imaging and histological analyses reveal that YG protects against structural degeneration in the joint with OA. Proteomic and metabolomic profiling, along with network analysis, uncovered that multiple components of YG alter protein expression in key pathways related to inflammation and cartilage degradation, thus validating the observed clinical effects. The efficacy of YG seems to be the result of the synergistic action of its diverse constituents. Our findings support the use of YG as a multitarget therapy for OA and encourage efforts for the potential repurposing of its active components.