Clinical effects of Garcinia kola in knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objectives: Over the past years, there has been a growing number of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients who are not willing to comply with long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) treatment and wish to use herbal anti-rheumatic medicine. This study assessed the clinical effects of Garcinia kola (GK) in KOA patients. Patients and methods:Prospective randomized, placebo controlled, double blind, clinical trial approved by the institutional medical ethics review board and written informed consent obtained from each patient. All KOA patients presenting at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital complex were recruited into the study. The patients were grouped into four (A = Placebo, B = Naproxen, C = Garcinia kola, D = Celebrex). The drugs and placebo were given twice a day per oral route. Each dose consisted of 200 mg of G. kola, Naproxen (500 mg), Celebrex (200 mg) and Ascorbic acid (100 mg). The primary outcome measure over six weeks study period was the change in mean WOMAC pain visual analogue scales (VAS). Secondary outcome measures included the mean change in joint stiffness and physical function (mobility/walking).Results: 143 patients were recruited, 84 (58.7%, males -24, females -60) satisfied the selection criteria and completed the study. The effect of knee osteoarthritis bilateralism among the subjects was not significant on their outcome (p > 0.05). The change in the mean WOMAC pain VAS after six weeks of G. kola was significantly reduced compared to the placebo (p < 0.001). Multiple comparisons of the mean VAS pain change of G. kola group was not lowered significantly against the naproxen and celebrex groups (p > 0.05). The onset of G. kola symptomatic pain relief was faster than the placebo (p < 0.001). However, it was slower than the active comparators (p > 0.05). The duration of therapeutic effect of Garcinia kola was longer than the placebo (p > 0.001). G. kola period of effect was less than naproxen and celebrex (p < 0.001). G. kola subjects had improved mean change mobility/walking after six weeks better than the control group(p < 0.001). The mean change in mobility of the G. kola group when compared to the active comparators was not significantly better (p < 0.05). The mean change of knee joint stiffness (p < 0.001) and the change

Garcinia Kola Extracts As Antifungal Therapy for Oral Candida Infections’- A Comparative Study

“…It is cheap, edible, readily available and non-toxic. In this study, no observable side effect was noticed with Garcinia kola, as also reported in other studies 13,28 .…”

“…These account for its antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties which have been demonstrated in many studies i.e. as antifungal against Candida infection of the eye by Adefule-Ositelu et al Adefule-Osditelu et al 9 ; as antibacterial by Adefule-Ositelu 10 and Sote et al 11 , as antiviral by Adefule-Ositelu et al 12 , reducing pain and sub-chondral pressure in knee osteo-arthritis by Adegbehingbe 13 . We therefore set to investigate its antifungal activity against oral Candida and to observe any significant side effects.…”

An overview on genus garcinia: phytochemical and therapeutical aspects

“…channels sensitive to 4-AP and ChTX with a resultant membrane hyperpolarization/repolarization. Adegbehingbe et al (2008) evaluated the Garcinia kola (GK) extracts for the anti-osteoarthritic properties. A randomized double-blinded study was conducted in volunteer osteoarthritis patients.…”

Computational antioxidant capacity simulation assay of Garcinia kola (Heckel) seed extracts

“…There are many folkloric usages, which include treatment of bronchitis, laryngitis, oral infections, colic, dysentery, bacterial and viral infections (Irvine, 1961;Farombi, 2003). The seed has been clinically evaluated as treatment for knee osteoarthritis (Adegbehingbe et al, 2008), while its potential as an aphrodisiac was also demonstrated in male Wistar rats (Sewani-Rusike et al, 2016;Farombi et al, 2013b).…”