Syringic acid promotes cartilage extracellular matrix generation and attenuates osteoarthritic cartilage degradation by activating TGF-β/Smad and inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic degenerative disease which is characterized by the disruption of articular cartilage. Syringic acid (SA) is a phenolic compound with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other effects including promoting osteogenesis. However, the effect of SA on OA has not yet been reported.