A review on current nutraceuticals in the management of osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative joint syndrome that has a major impact on joint function and quality of life. Nutraceuticals and nutritional supplement derived from herbs have long been used in traditional remedy and there is considerable evidence that nutraceuticals may play an important role in irritation and joint demolition in OA. We review the biological effects of some medicinal fruits and herbs like pomegranate, green tea, cat’s claw, devil’s claw, ginger, Indian olibaum, turmeric and ananas. So in an attempt to understand the essential molecular targets involved in irritation and the joint destruction process and to summarize their toxicities and efficacy for OA management. So far there is insufficient reliable evidence on the effectiveness of ginger, turmeric and ananas. Pomegranate and green tea only have preclinical evidence of efficacy due to the bee deficient in of clinical data. In vivo and clinical studies are required to understand their targets and efficacy in OA. There is strong clinical evidence of the efficacy of devil’s claw in relieving pain. However, high-quality clinical trials are required to determine its effectiveness. No severe side effects have been reported for any fruits and herbs. Overall, these studies discover and support the use of nutraceuticals to provide symptomatic relief to patients with OA and to be used as accessory therapy for OA management. More high-quality trials are needed to provide perfect answers to questions related to their efficacy and safety for OA prevention and/or treatment.