Devil’s Claw, also known as Harpagophytum procumbens, has a long-standing history of use in traditional medicine for treating inflammation. Numerous studies have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory properties and its role in managing joint inflammation.
Human trials have confirmed that Devil’s Claw extract containing harpagoside significantly reduces pain in cases of osteoarthritis in the knee and hip, as well as alleviating rheumatic and lower back pain. While scientists do not yet fully understand the mechanism behind its pain-relieving effects, it is believed to be due to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-inflammatory capabilities of Devil’s Claw were first observed in animals in the 1960s, and since then, numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have validated the plant’s and its extracts’ ability to reduce inflammation. This is thought to be linked to the inhibition of the arachidonic acid cascade and the suppression of various inflammatory cytokines.
A 2010 Japanese study on mice found that Devil’s Claw (particularly the harpagoside compound) significantly reduced arthritis-related inflammation. Another 2001 study involving 117 patients found that an 8-week regimen of Devil’s Claw extract helped all participants alleviate chronic back pain for at least six months without any severe side effects.
In studies involving approximately 700 patients with degenerative joint diseases, the effectiveness of Devil’s Claw was found to range between 42% and 85%, depending on the type of condition.
Hostanska and colleagues demonstrated that extracts from the root tubers of Devil’s Claw have significant anti-inflammatory effects, particularly by metabolically activating and inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with joint inflammation. Their results showed that the metabolic activation of Devil’s Claw extract mixtures caused no significant cytotoxicity or inhibitory effects, while TNF-α demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory activity.
In another study, Gyurkovska and colleagues showed that several Devil’s Claw root extracts exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro systems. They detected the release of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) by murine macrophages, as well as the expression of COX-1 and COX-2. Further studies demonstrated that the primary active compound in Devil’s Claw, harpagoside, has outstanding anti-inflammatory properties. In a mouse model, harpagoside reduced inflammation-induced bone loss while preventing osteoclastogenesis. Additionally, harpagoside inhibited osteoclast development from murine bone marrow macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. In the same context, harpagoside blocked c-FOS activity as an AP-1 transcription factor in osteoarthritis chondrocytes.
Another study examined the ethanolic extracts of Devil’s Claw and other herbs for their anti-denaturation effects when treated with heat-denatured bovine serum albumin (BSA), demonstrating their potential as anti-inflammatory compounds. Dose-dependent results showed that Devil’s Claw possesses strong anti-inflammatory properties.
In a separate study, Devil’s Claw root tuber extracts were identified as effective bacterial trigger inhibitors in autoimmune inflammatory diseases.
Overall, these findings suggest that Devil’s Claw extracts hold great promise in treating joint inflammation and other inflammatory diseases. Their effects are mediated through various mechanisms, including the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the direct reduction of inflammation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9182060/
