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Herbal Formulations and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis!
Due to the side effects of Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, no doubt there is an increase of herbals for the treatment of arthritis. However the scientific study of these herbs is currently more focused on the identification, isolation and characterization of the active principle(s) from crude extracts.
The fact that strong synergism of several constituent in the crude drug may prove more potent and effective than any single purified compound is being overlooked. Moreover this may help to nullify the toxic effects (if any) of individual constituents. A limited number of poly-herbal formulations has been studied for anti-arthritic activity (Table 17.3).
Among them are various Kampo medicine (traditional Japanese herbal medicine). In a study total 8 Kampo medicines were evaluated and examined for their effects on collagen induced arthritis and PX transgenic mice. Among these Dia-bofu-to, Kanzo-bushi-to, and Makayo-yokkan-to significantly reduced the severity of arthritis in collagen induced arthritis mice.
Dai-bofu-to (DBT), includes 15 herbs in different proportion, was studied for clinical evaluation of PX transgenic mice, histological assessment, FACS analysis, RT-southern blot analysis. All these studies show positive results towards an alternative for the treatment of arthritis.
Kanzo-Bushi-to (KBT), consists of four medical srude drugs: Cinnamomi cortex, Clycyrrhizae radix, Atractylodis Lanceae and Aconitum tuber, was studied to investigate the suppressive effect on collagen induced arthritis (CIA) along with the mechanism.
It was found that KBT suppressed CIA development effectively and further protected focal bone erosion and bone destruction. PC201 that contains ethanolic extracts of 12 herbs was tested for the control of inflammatory proteins and cartilage degradation with adverse effects on collagen induced arthritis.
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Evidence showed that it suppressed the progression of CIA and erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced.
An Indian poly herbal drug Ease was evaluated for its anti arthritic and anti-inflammatory effect and its mechanism of action, the results significant effect recommending for its clinical studies.
The Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore, India developed a poly herbal formulation Joint Care B, containing Alpinia galanga (rhizome), Commiphora w/ghf/V (oleo-gum-resin), Boswellia serrata (oleo- gum resin), Foeniculum vulgare (fruit), Clycyrrhi- za glabra (root), Vitex negundo (seed), and Anethum graveolens (fruit).
It was recommended that this formulation have anti-inflammatory activity without any side effects.
