After the oral administration of DBD by gavage, we found that DBD could up-regulate SFRP4 (which was expressed at low levels in the synovium of rats with arthritis) and that the protein levels of β-catenin and c-myc (downstream of the Wnt pathway) decreased significantly, thus inhibiting the abnormal proliferation in the synovium of rats with arthritis. This evidence concerns the gene SFRP4 and arthritic joint disease.