The anti-inflammatory capacity of Rose-hip is strongly dependent on the seeds - a comparison of animal and human studies

Abstract

Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease caused by imbalance between formation and the destruction of cartilage, having pain, and crepitating knee as the most prominent symptoms. Rose-hip powder (RHP) is a well-known herbal remedy in Northern Europe, and glucosamine sulfate (GS) is commonly used to relieve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of a standardized Rose-hip powder, manufactured by Hyben-Vital, Langeland, Denmark, to glucosamine sulfate, in a blinded, parallel, randomized, controlled study. Methods: Patients with moderate to severe symptoms of knee osteoarthritis according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, without infectious arthritis, and not taking either of the studied supplements for the last 6 weeks before entering the study, were randomly recruited. Primary endpoints were to measure the efficacy of each remedy, and to compare the efficacy of the two remedies, in the reduction of symptoms from knee osteoarthritis such as pain, stiffness and functional disability, measured by WOMAC score, at the end of 3 rd , 5 th and 8 th week of treatment. The Secondary endpoints included the reduction of analgesic consumption and the incidence of adverse reactions at the end of the 8 th week of treatment. Statistical evaluation: WOMAC score changes within group were analyzed by Repeated Measure two-ways ANOVA. Subanalysis of values between groups was done by t-test. Data are given as mean values AE SD. P value of less than 0.050 is regarded as statistical significant. Results: A number of 46 patients, 24 patients, 3 males 21 females, mean age of 58.25AE10.76 years, mean weight of 62.20AE8.85, with mean WOMAC total score of 44.17AE11.87, were included in the GS group and 22 patients, 1 male, 21 female, mean age of 60.41AE10.00, mean weight of 61.99AE10.56, with mean WOMAC total score of 44.51AE13.17, were included in the RHP group. All completed the study. There was no significant difference in the subject characteristics between groups at the initial level. Glucosamine sulfate (GS) was given at the dose of 1500 mg per day, while Rose-hip powder (RHP) was given at 4500 mg per day. Results showed that, total WOMAC scores at the end of 3 rd , 5 th and 8 th week in GS group declined with statistically significance from 44.17AE11.87 to 33.92AE10.88 (p<0.001), 24.83AE12.16 (p<0.001), and 17.46AE12.11 (p<0.001), respectively, while the RHP group also showed statistically significant decrease in total WOMAC score from 44.50AE13.17 to 29.59AE15.86 (p<0.001), 19.36AE14.87 (p<0.001) and 9.54AE13.59 (p<0.001) respectively. The total WOMAC scores of RHP group was significantly lower than GS group at the end of the 8 th week (p<0.044). WOMAC scores on pain and stiffness also decreased significantly in both groups, without statistical significant difference between groups. The RHP group showed lower WOMAC score on functional disability, with statistical significance (P<0.015) when compared to GS group at the end of the 8 th week. Both groups...

Review of Anti-Inflammatory Herbal Medicines

“…It should be noted that anti-inflammatory effect of rosehip refers to the seed, but not its shell. The latter claim has been substantiated via two clinical studies which have been done on OA patients [ 56 , 58 ]. Likewise, rosehip powder has reduced ESR and improved quality of life in RA patients; thus, it might be used as a supplement besides the standard treatment of RA [ 59 ].…”

“…The effectiveness of rosehip has been assessed in OA and RA patients. The outcomes of these studies were as follows: the patients, who have suffered from OA, have experienced alleviation in pain, rescue medication consumption, and stiffness and a significant reduction in CRP which have been observed after treatment with this plant [ 56 , 57 ]. It should be noted that anti-inflammatory effect of rosehip refers to the seed, but not its shell.…”