Abstract:Objective: To investigate the effect on the extract of total flavonoids of Chrysanthemum indicum (TFC) on adjuvant arthritis synovial cells. Method: SD rats were divided randomly into six groups including normal, model, TFC (84, 168, 336 mg·kg-1) and control drug Tripterygium glycosides (30 mg·kg-1) groups. Adjuvant arthritis rat model was induced by a single intradermal injection of 0.1 mL of the complete Freund’s adjuvant into the right hind feet pads of the SD rats. The proliferation of synoviocyte was measured by MTT; The apoptosis rates of synovial cells were evaluated using TUNEL and FCM analysis. Result: TFC resulted in a dose-dependent way in inhibiting the proliferation of synovial and inducing the apoptosis of synovium and synoviocytes in vivo. Conclusion: TFC can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in synovial cells, and exert therapeutical effect on rheumatoid arthritis.