Objective To observe the effects of three different moxibustion methods, including conventional moxibustion, moxa smoke moxibustion, and smoke-removal moxibustion, on characteristic Raman peaks of plasma in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) model rats, and to compare material basis differences between the smoke and thermal effects of moxibustion, thereby exploring the mechanism of action of moxibustion treatment. Methods Fifty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group, a moxa smoke removal group, and a moxa smoke group, with 10 rats in each group. The KOA model was established by intra-articular injection of drugs. Moxibustion was performed after 30 d of model induction, and samples were obtained after 30 d of continuous intervention. Exercise abilities of rats were tested by using an animal treadmill system; Von Frey filament was used to measure the mechanical pain threshold in rats; Raman spectrum characteristics of rat plasma were detected by using colloidal silver nanoparticle solution; Uspectral-PRO Raman spectroscopy analysis system was applied to observe characteristic peak data of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Results Compared to the normal group, average exhausting running distance and mechanical pain threshold of rats in the model group were lower (P<0.01); characteristic peak intensities with Raman frequency shifts of 480–490 cm−1, 635–655 cm−1, 720–736 cm−1, 800–810 cm−1, 870–910 cm−1, 1 014–1 025 cm−1, 1 090 cm−1, 1 210–1 220 cm−1, 1 283 cm−1, 1 570–1 590 cm−1 were decreased, and characteristic peak intensity at 560 cm−1 was increased. Compared to the model group, exhausting running distance was increased (P<0.05), and the mechanical pain threshold was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the moxibustion group and moxa smoke removal group; characteristic peak intensities at 635–655 cm−1, 800–810 cm−1, 870–910 cm−1, 1 014–1 025 cm−1, 1 210–1 220 cm−1, 1 375 cm−1, 1 283 cm−1, and 1 447 cm−1 in the moxibustion, moxa smoke, and moxa smoke removal groups were all increased, with more obvious increase in the moxibustion group; moxa smoke-removal moxibustion had a more obvious effect on characteristic peak intensity at 1 283 cm−1, and moxa smoke moxibustion had a specific effect on characteristic peak intensity at 1 090 cm−1. Both conventional moxibustion and moxa smoke moxibustion enhanced characteristic peak intensities at 480–490 cm−1, 560 cm−1, and 1 130–1 135 cm−1, but moxa smoke-removal moxibustion did not show this effect. Conclusion Moxibustion significantly improves joint movement ability of KOA model rats, reduces pain, and regulates plasma polysaccharide (480–490 cm−1), tyrosine (800–810 cm−1 and 1 570–1 590 cm−1), tryptophan (1 210–1 220 cm−1 and 1 375 cm−1), and phospholipids (1 130–1 135 cm−1 and 1 655–1 680 cm−1); amid III (1 283 cm−1) and phenylalanine (1 090 cm−1) may be the substances responsible for the differential effects between moxibustion’s smoke and heat.

Analysis of moxibustion’s smoke and thermal effects on plasma effector substances in KOA model rats using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年4月24日

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Xia Wei,
Wenxiu Duan,
Lei Liu,
Ling Hu,
Zijian Wu,
Ronglin Cai,
Jie Wang,
Qing Yu

摘要

Objective

To observe the effects of three different moxibustion methods, including conventional moxibustion, moxa smoke moxibustion, and smoke-removal moxibustion, on characteristic Raman peaks of plasma in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) model rats, and to compare material basis differences between the smoke and thermal effects of moxibustion, thereby exploring the mechanism of action of moxibustion treatment.

Methods

Fifty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group, a moxa smoke removal group, and a moxa smoke group, with 10 rats in each group. The KOA model was established by intra-articular injection of drugs. Moxibustion was performed after 30 d of model induction, and samples were obtained after 30 d of continuous intervention. Exercise abilities of rats were tested by using an animal treadmill system; Von Frey filament was used to measure the mechanical pain threshold in rats; Raman spectrum characteristics of rat plasma were detected by using colloidal silver nanoparticle solution; Uspectral-PRO Raman spectroscopy analysis system was applied to observe characteristic peak data of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Results

Compared to the normal group, average exhausting running distance and mechanical pain threshold of rats in the model group were lower (P<0.01); characteristic peak intensities with Raman frequency shifts of 480–490 cm⁻¹, 635–655 cm⁻¹, 720–736 cm⁻¹, 800–810 cm⁻¹, 870–910 cm⁻¹, 1 014–1 025 cm⁻¹, 1 090 cm⁻¹, 1 210–1 220 cm⁻¹, 1 283 cm⁻¹, 1 570–1 590 cm⁻¹ were decreased, and characteristic peak intensity at 560 cm⁻¹ was increased. Compared to the model group, exhausting running distance was increased (P<0.05), and the mechanical pain threshold was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the moxibustion group and moxa smoke removal group; characteristic peak intensities at 635–655 cm⁻¹, 800–810 cm⁻¹, 870–910 cm⁻¹, 1 014–1 025 cm⁻¹, 1 210–1 220 cm⁻¹, 1 375 cm⁻¹, 1 283 cm⁻¹, and 1 447 cm⁻¹ in the moxibustion, moxa smoke, and moxa smoke removal groups were all increased, with more obvious increase in the moxibustion group; moxa smoke-removal moxibustion had a more obvious effect on characteristic peak intensity at 1 283 cm⁻¹, and moxa smoke moxibustion had a specific effect on characteristic peak intensity at 1 090 cm⁻¹. Both conventional moxibustion and moxa smoke moxibustion enhanced characteristic peak intensities at 480–490 cm⁻¹, 560 cm⁻¹, and 1 130–1 135 cm⁻¹, but moxa smoke-removal moxibustion did not show this effect.

Conclusion

Moxibustion significantly improves joint movement ability of KOA model rats, reduces pain, and regulates plasma polysaccharide (480–490 cm⁻¹), tyrosine (800–810 cm⁻¹ and 1 570–1 590 cm⁻¹), tryptophan (1 210–1 220 cm⁻¹ and 1 375 cm⁻¹), and phospholipids (1 130–1 135 cm⁻¹ and 1 655–1 680 cm⁻¹); amid III (1 283 cm⁻¹) and phenylalanine (1 090 cm⁻¹) may be the substances responsible for the differential effects between moxibustion’s smoke and heat.