The present study demonstrated a protective impact of ADF on newly established SS-associated salivary gland inflammation and secretory hypofunction using the NOD mouse model, and dissected the potential mechanisms including a reduction in T and B cell infiltration, mitigation of Th1 and Th17 cell responses and PPAR pathway activity and up-regulation of claudin-1 and AQP5 gene expression in the salivary tissues. Here, AQP5 is linked to synovial sarcoma.