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Comparative Study
. 2021 Apr;29(2):377-391.
doi: 10.1007/s10787-020-00781-9. Epub 2021 Jan 16.

Miconia albicans and Curcuma longa herbal medicines positively modulate joint pain, function and inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis: a clinical study

Thiago P O Gomes  1 , Jonathan I N Souza  1 , Lucas C Somerlate  1 , Vanessa A Mendonça  2 , Nerilson M Lima  3 , Gabriela P Carli  3 , Sandra B R Castro  4 , Teresinha de Jesus A S Andrade  5 , João V L Dias  1 , Marcone A L Oliveira  3 , Caio C S Alves  1 , Alessandra P Carli  6
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Miconia albicans and Curcuma longa herbal medicines positively modulate joint pain, function and inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis: a clinical study

Thiago P O Gomes et al. Inflammopharmacology. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the analgesic and modulating effect of Curcuma longa and Miconia albicans herbal medicines in knee's osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. This longitudinal study evaluated 24 patients with OA. The patients were divided into three groups: ibuprofen (1200 mg/day), C. longa (1000 mg/day) and M. albicans (1000 mg/day). The medications were applied orally for 30 days. The synovial fluid of the knee joint was collect at the first (day 0) and the last medical (day 30) consultation. The groups treated with herbal medicines presented the same results when compared to Ibuprofen. The comparison of the means of Total WOMAC for M. albicans before and after treatment presented a statistically significant difference (mean day 0 = 57.19; mean day 30 = 31.02) as well as variation of Total WOMAC for C. longa (mean day 0 = 54.79; mean day 30 = 37.08). The WOMAC Total and the VASP were compared, it was found that there was a significant decrease in the means in the C. longa and M. albicans groups, as well as in the Ibuprofen group after treatment. The study demonstrated that the treatment of knee OA with C. longa or M. albicans positively interferes with patients pain and functionality, decreased WOMAC and VASP scores, leading to functional improvement of these patients. This is the first clinical study demonstrating the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on knee osteoarthritis from M. albicans comparable to Ibuprofen drug.

Keywords: Curcuma longa; Ibuprofen; Inflammatory mediators; Knee osteoarthritis; Miconia albicans; Pain measurement.

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