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Natural Approach in Osteoarthritis Therapy
Alice Grigore1, Virginia Vulturescu2
1National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research and Development-ICCF Bucharest, Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies Department, Calea Vitan, No. 112, 3rd District, 031299 Bucharest, Romania.
Abstract:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease worldwide, and its rising prevalence is supported by factors such as obesity and sedentariness. At the molecular level, it is considered an inflammatory disease that leads to the destruction of articular cartilage. Effective therapy to end the degenerative process of arthritis remains elusive, and most therapeutic tools prevent the progress or alleviate the symptoms. By now, medicines for OA are available for oral, topical, or intra-articular (IA) therapy and include analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and hyaluronic acid. Compared with conventional oral administration, IA therapy has multiple advantages in terms of bioavailability, efficacy, and toxicity. This review aims to study the underlying beneficial effects of herbal medicine in OA therapy and to open new research perspectives. Herbal medicine administered orally or topically exhibits pharmacological properties that could be relevant for their beneficial effect in OA, mainly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. There are few studies regarding IA injections of plant extracts/ compounds and none related to any combination with agents already used in the clinic. Designing natural pharmaceutical formulations with increased bioavailability that are safe, lack side effects, and are specifically tested, would be a plus for research on medicinal plants and a novelty for the clinic.
Insights
Osteoarthritis (OA), a common inflammatory joint disease, lacks effective cures. This review explores herbal medicines, particularly their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, for potential OA therapy, especially via intra-articular injection.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage destruction and inflammation.
- Current OA treatments primarily manage symptoms or slow progression, with no definitive cure available.
- Intra-articular (IA) therapy offers advantages over oral administration for OA treatment due to improved bioavailability and reduced systemic toxicity.
Approach:
- This review examines the therapeutic potential of herbal medicines for osteoarthritis.
- It focuses on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of plant-derived compounds relevant to OA.
- The review also explores the limited research on intra-articular injections of herbal extracts and their potential combination therapies.
Key Points:
- Herbal medicines possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties beneficial for managing OA.
- Intra-articular administration of herbal therapies presents a promising route for enhanced efficacy and safety.
- Further research is needed to develop and clinically test novel natural pharmaceutical formulations for OA.
Conclusions:
- Herbal medicine offers a promising avenue for novel osteoarthritis therapies, particularly through intra-articular administration.
- Developing safe, bioavailable, and targeted natural formulations could significantly advance OA treatment.
- This review highlights the need for further investigation into plant-based compounds for effective OA management.
