Harpagophytum
Encyclopedia
Harpagophytum procumbens, also called grapple plant, wood spider and most commonly devil's claw, is a plant
of the sesame
family, native to South Africa
. It got its name from the peculiar appearance of its hooked fruit. The plant's large tuberous root
s are used medicinally to reduce pain
and fever
, and to stimulate digestion
. European colonists brought devil's claw home where it was used to treat arthritis
.
H. procumbens are mainly found in the eastern and south eastern parts of Namibia
, Southern Botswana and the Kalahari region of the Northern Cape
, South Africa. H. Zeyheri is found in the northern parts of Namibia (Ovamboland) and southern Angola. The active ingredient is harpagoside (structure at PubChem http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=5281542&loc=ec_rcs) with values ranging in both species from 1.0% to 3.3%.
The name "devil's claw" is also used for several species of North America
n plants in the genus Proboscidea
, as well as Urtica dioica and certain species of Pisonia
.
The two active ingredients in Devil's Claw are harpagoside and beta-sitosterol
. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognises Devil's Claw as having analgesic
, sedative
and diuretic
properties. Most studies involve chronic use, rather than acute treatment of pain.
Several studies have been performed using Doloteffin, a standardized preparation of Devil's Claw. Due to the natural variability of herbal extracts, the results of studies using different products and preparations are difficult to compare. A series of small-scale studies completed in Germany found that H. procumbens was comparable to Vioxx
in the treatment of chronic low back pain, and was well-tolerated after more than four years of treatment with H. procumbens alone. H. procumbens also seems efficacious in the treatment of arthritis-caused hip and knee pain. An author involved in several studies on Devil's Claw and pain relief had the general conclusion that a minimum 50 mg per dose standardized extract was an alternative to synthetic analgesics with a low risk of adverse events. A separate 2006 systematic review
of herbal medications for low back pain
reached the conclusion that a standardized daily dose between 50 and 100 mg of harpagoside performed better than a placebo
, and an unspecified dose of harpagoside demonstrated relative equivalence to 12.5 mg per day of Vioxx.
and warfarin
, and patients should consult with a physician before combining Devil's claw with these medications. In addition, Devil's Claw promotes the secretion of stomach acid, leading to difficulties in those with peptic ulcer
s, gastritis
or excess stomach acid. Care should also be taken for individuals with gallstone
s.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
of the sesame
Sesame
Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods....
family, native to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It got its name from the peculiar appearance of its hooked fruit. The plant's large tuberous root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s are used medicinally to reduce pain
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
and fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
, and to stimulate digestion
Digestion
Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller components that are more easily absorbed into a blood stream, for instance. Digestion is a form of catabolism: a breakdown of large food molecules to smaller ones....
. European colonists brought devil's claw home where it was used to treat arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
.
H. procumbens are mainly found in the eastern and south eastern parts of Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Southern Botswana and the Kalahari region of the Northern Cape
Northern Cape
The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of an international park shared with Botswana...
, South Africa. H. Zeyheri is found in the northern parts of Namibia (Ovamboland) and southern Angola. The active ingredient is harpagoside (structure at PubChem http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=5281542&loc=ec_rcs) with values ranging in both species from 1.0% to 3.3%.
The name "devil's claw" is also used for several species of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n plants in the genus Proboscidea
Proboscidea (genus)
Proboscidea is a genus of flowering plant in the family Martyniaceae, some of whose species are known as devil's claw, devil's horn, ram's horn, or unicorn plant. The plants produce long, hooked seed pods. The hooks catch on the feet of animals, and as the animals walk, the pods are ground or...
, as well as Urtica dioica and certain species of Pisonia
Pisonia
Pisonia is a genus of flowering plants in the four o'clock flower family, Nyctaginaceae. It was named for Dutch physician and naturalist Willem Piso . Certain species in this genus are known as Catchbirdtrees because their sticky seeds reportedly trap small birds...
.
Potential medical uses
Beta-sitosterol
β-Sitosterol is one of several phytosterols with chemical structures similar to that of cholesterol. Sitosterols are white, waxy powders with a characteristic odor...
. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognises Devil's Claw as having analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
, sedative
Sedative
A sedative or tranquilizer is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement....
and diuretic
Diuretic
A diuretic provides a means of forced diuresis which elevates the rate of urination. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from bodies, although each class does so in a distinct way.- Medical uses :...
properties. Most studies involve chronic use, rather than acute treatment of pain.
Several studies have been performed using Doloteffin, a standardized preparation of Devil's Claw. Due to the natural variability of herbal extracts, the results of studies using different products and preparations are difficult to compare. A series of small-scale studies completed in Germany found that H. procumbens was comparable to Vioxx
Rofecoxib
Rofecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has now been withdrawn over safety concerns. It was marketed by Merck & Co. to treat osteoarthritis, acute pain conditions, and dysmenorrhoea...
in the treatment of chronic low back pain, and was well-tolerated after more than four years of treatment with H. procumbens alone. H. procumbens also seems efficacious in the treatment of arthritis-caused hip and knee pain. An author involved in several studies on Devil's Claw and pain relief had the general conclusion that a minimum 50 mg per dose standardized extract was an alternative to synthetic analgesics with a low risk of adverse events. A separate 2006 systematic review
Systematic review
A systematic review is a literature review focused on a research question that tries to identify, appraise, select and synthesize all high quality research evidence relevant to that question. Systematic reviews of high-quality randomized controlled trials are crucial to evidence-based medicine...
of herbal medications for low back pain
Low back pain
Low back pain or lumbago is a common musculoskeletal disorder affecting 80% of people at some point in their lives. In the United States it is the most common cause of job-related disability, a leading contributor to missed work, and the second most common neurological ailment — only headache is...
reached the conclusion that a standardized daily dose between 50 and 100 mg of harpagoside performed better than a placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
, and an unspecified dose of harpagoside demonstrated relative equivalence to 12.5 mg per day of Vioxx.
Adverse reactions
Devil's claw may interfere with the action of ticlopidineTiclopidine
Ticlopidine is an antiplatelet drug in the thienopyridine family. Like clopidogrel, it is an adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitor. It is used in patients in whom aspirin is not tolerated, or in whom dual antiplatelet therapy is desirable...
and warfarin
Warfarin
Warfarin is an anticoagulant. It is most likely to be the drug popularly referred to as a "blood thinner," yet this is a misnomer, since it does not affect the thickness or viscosity of blood...
, and patients should consult with a physician before combining Devil's claw with these medications. In addition, Devil's Claw promotes the secretion of stomach acid, leading to difficulties in those with peptic ulcer
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
s, gastritis
Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach, and has many possible causes. The main acute causes are excessive alcohol consumption or prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic...
or excess stomach acid. Care should also be taken for individuals with gallstone
Gallstone
A gallstone is a crystalline concretion formed within the gallbladder by accretion of bile components. These calculi are formed in the gallbladder, but may pass distally into other parts of the biliary tract such as the cystic duct, common bile duct, pancreatic duct, or the ampulla of...
s.