Effectiveness and safety of Devil's Claw tablets in patients with general rheumatic disorders

Abstract

Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC) are the leading cause of disability, are associated with poor quality of life and incur considerable direct and indirect costs. It is considered that the instance of AORC will continue to increase. To assess the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of Harpagophytum (Bioforce) in the treatment of AORC, a single group open study of 8 weeks duration (259 patients) was performed in the United Kingdom. Effectiveness was assessed by numeric rating scales, the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index and the Algofunctional Hand Osteoarthritis Index. Tolerance was measured by a numeric rating scale and safety by self-reporting, blood analysis and liver function tests. Quality of life was measured by SF-12 questionnaire. There were statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvements in patient assessment of global pain, stiffness and function. There were also statistically significant reductions in mean pain scores for hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and back pain. Quality of life measurements (SF-12) were significantly increased from baseline and 60% patients either reduced or stopped concomitant pain medication. Harpagophytum is an effective and well-tolerated serious treatment option for mild to moderate degenerative rheumatic disorders providing improved quality of life measure.

Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) and chronic inflammatory diseases: A concise overview on preclinical and clinical data

“…Subsequently, a single group open study was performed on 259 patients administered with devil's claw dry extract (960 mg/day) for 8 weeks. The authors reported a significant reduction in global pain and stiffness alongside with significant improvements in function and mean pain scores for hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and back pain (Warnock, McBean, Suter, Tan, & Whittaker, ). The efficacy of devil's claw was demonstrated in a rat model of arthritis, as well (Andersen, Santos, SeabraMde, da Silva, & Tufik, ).…”

Devil's Claw—A review of the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and biological activity of Harpagophytum procumbens

“…The patients with more severe pain tended to use more Tramadol s but not to the maximum permitted dose (Chrubasik et al, 1999). Warnock et al (2007) conducted a single group, open, 8-wk clinical study in the United Kingdom on 259 patients suffering from arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC) where pain (rated 2-7 out of 10) was present at least 2 days per week in the affected area during the previous 8 weeks. A. Vogel Rheuma Tabletten s containing 480 mg of H. procumbens dried extract each was selfadministered every morning and evening (960 mg/d) with meals and the effectiveness assessed for 207 patients.…”

Natural products—friends or foes?

“…contributing to the prevention of malignant transformation in a 761 similar fashion to that noted by resveratrol (Cho et al, 2012;Bamba 762 et al, 2011;Choi et al, 2008). (Grant et al, 2007;Warnock et al, 2007;Romiti et al, 2009). Unger 804 and Frank (2004) are also associating herbal supplements or vegetal rich diets nitric oxide production on whole-blood assay.…”