Efficacy and tolerability of Withaina somnifera root extracts on treating knee joint pain

A study published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine studied the effect of Withaina somnifera in people with knee joint pain and discomfort.

• Combining the extracts of the plant’s roots and leaves may provide better therapeutic effects, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective than root extracts alone.
• Researchers from Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) assessed the efficacy and tolerability of the root and leaf extracts of W. somnifera in individuals with knee joint pain and discomfort.
• The study involved 60 individuals with knee joint pain and discomfort who either received 250 milligrams (mg) of W. somnifera, 125 mg of W. somnifera, or a placebo twice each day.
• The researchers used a modified Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (mWOMAC) to examine pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis. In addition, Knee Swelling Index (KSI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were also used before the interventions and at the end of the fourth, eighth, and 12^th weeks.
• They also examined the participants’ tolerability through the incidence of adverse effects in treatment groups.
• Results revealed that the mean mWOMAC and KSI in W. somnifera 250 mg and W. somnifera 125 mg exhibited significant reductions which may be attributed to W. somnifera’s analgesic, chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.
• VAS scores for pain, stiffness, and disability in the W. somnifera treatments also showed significant reductions.
• The group that received 250 mg of W. somnifera showed the greatest effects compared to the other groups and earliest efficacy at four weeks.

The findings of the study suggested that the therapeutic effects of W. somnifera are dose-dependent and free of any significant adverse effects.

For the full text of the study, go to this link.

Journal Reference:

Ramakanth GSH, Uday Kumar C, Kishan PV, Usharani P. A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE BLIND PLACEBO CONTROLLED STUDY OF EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF WITHAINA SOMNIFERA EXTRACTS IN KNEE JOINT PAIN. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2016;7(3):151-157. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2016.05.003