Objective Based on the NF-κB signaling pathway, to explore the mechanism of Miao medicine Guanjie Heluo Decoction in improving cartilage degeneration in rats with knee osteoarthritis.Methods Thirty SPF SD male rats were selected and divided into blank group ( normal feeding ), model group ( equal amount of normal saline ), Miao medicine Guanjie Heluo Decoction low ( 7.5g / Kg ), medium ( 15g / Kg ), high dose group ( 30g / Kg ) and control group ( imrecoxib suspension 18mg / Kg ) after successful modeling, with 5 rats in each group. X-ray was taken on the left knee joint of rats in each group at 2 and 4 weeks after modeling, and the severity of knee osteoarthritis was evaluated by K-L ( Kellgren-Lawrence ) grading system. After sampling, the articular surfaces of the left knee joint of rats were observed by naked eyes ; the expression of NF-κB P65, MMP13, ADAMTS5, Bax and Caspase9 mRNA was detected by q-PCR. Elisa was used to detect the concentration of IL-4, PGE2, IL-18, MMP13 and other related inflammatory factors to evaluate the inflammatory response. WB was used to detect the expression of p-NF-κB P65, MMP13, ADAMTS5, Bax and Caspase9 protein. The expression of Collagen II and bax related proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry to evaluate the cartilage synthesis and chondrocyte apoptosis.Results Through visual observation, the knee joint of rats in the high dose group was significantly better than that in the other intervention groups in the degree of joint space stenosis, osteophyte hyperplasia and cartilage wear. The X-ray results also showed that the knee joints of the high-dose group were superior to the other intervention groups in terms of joint space, osteophytes, cartilage sclerosis, and wear. The results of K-L grading score showed that at the time points of 2 weeks and 4 weeks, compared with the model group, the scores of the other intervention groups were significantly lower ( P < 0.05 ). The results of q-PCR showed that compared with the model group, the expression of NF-κB P65, MMP13, ADAMTS5, bax and Caspase9 mRNA in the other intervention groups decreased significantly ( P < 0.05 ). Elisa results showed that compared with the model group, the content of IL-4 in each intervention group was significantly increased ( P < 0.05 ). The levels of PGE2, IL-18 and MMP13 in each intervention group were significantly decreased ( P < 0.05 ). WB results showed that compared with the model group, the expression of p-NF-κB P65, MMP13, ADAMTS5, bax and Caspase9 protein in the other intervention groups decreased significantly (P<0.05).The results of immunohistochemistry showed that compared with the model group, the proportion of CollagenII positive in the other intervention groups increased significantly ( P < 0.05 ), and the proportion of Bax positive decreased significantly ( P < 0.05 ).Conclusion Miao medicine Guanjie Heluo Decoction can reduce the inflammatory reaction of knee osteoarthritis rats through NF-κB signaling pathway, inhibit the apoptosis of chondrocytes, and then control the process of knee osteoarthritis, so as to achieve the effect of treating knee osteoarthritis.