From: Harpgophytum procumbens for osteoarthritis and low back pain: A systematic review
Study | Sample Size | Condition; mean age (range) | Harpagophytum Intervention / control | Outcome measures and effects | Adverse effects | Reviewer's Overall Conclusions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schrüffler 1980 (Germany) | 50 | Osteoarthritis; 51 years | 2500 mg/ day, (harpagoside less than 30 mg per day) / Phenylbutazone for 4 weeks | mean pain improvements: H 80%, Phenylbutazone 72%; physical impairment: H n = 1, Phenybutazone n = 5; morning stiffness: H n = 2, Phenybutazone n = 5 | 0 H vs 4 Phenylbutazone | H better than Phenylbutazone |
Lecomte and Costa 1992 (France) | 89 | Osteoarthritis; (55–75) years | 2000 mg/day (Harpagoside content estimated indirectly as 60 mg per day) / placebo for 60 days | mean pain improvement: H 38%, P 25% p < .05; finger-ground distance modified Schober test (cm) mean improvement: H 16%, P 6% p < .05 | none for either group | H better than placebo |
Biller 2002 (Germany) | 78 | Osteoarthritis; not stated | 4500 mg/day, (harpagoside content estimated at < 30 mg per day) / placebo for 20 weeks | responders: H 90%, P 80% p-value not stated; mean consumption of ibuprofen: H .1, P .5 tablets | not stated | H better than placebo |
Chantre et al. 2000 (France) | 122 | Osteoarthritis; 62 years | 4500 mg / day, (57 mg harpagoside per day) / Diacerhein for 16 weeks | difference after 16 weeks between groups as measured by Lequesne functional index: less than 10 mm NS (intention-to-treat analysis with not all possible confounders considered) | 10 H vs 21 Diacerhein | H not worse than diacerhein |
Frerick et al. 2001 (Germany) | 46 | Osteoarthritis; 59 years | 4500 mg/day, (< 30 mg harpagoside per day) / placebo for 20 weeks | responders: H 71%, P 41% p=.041; WOMAC component pain NS (type of statistical analysis not stated) | 8 H vs 7 P | H better than placebo |
Chrubasik et al. 1996b (Germany) | 118 | Back pain; 54 years | 4500 mg/day, (50 mg harpagoside per day) / placebo for 4 weeks | mean tramadol consumption: H 99 ± 157 mg, P 102 ± 250 mg p =.44; number of pain-free patients at 4th week: H 9 P 1 p=.008; percentage change Arhus component pain: H 34%, P 6% p=.016 (per protocol analysis) | 4 H vs 10 P | not on primary outcome measure |
Chrubasik et al. 1997 (Germany) | 102 | Back pain; 49 years | 4500 mg/day, (30 mg harpagoside per day) / conventionally treating physicians administering oral NSAIDs, physical exercises, or paravertaebral injections for 6 weeks | number of pain-free patients 4th week: H 16, C12 NS; number of pain free patients 6th week: H 20, C 23 NS; percentage change Arhus component pain after four weeks: H 23%, C 22% p=.95; after 6 weeks H 33%, C 38% p=.38 | 5 H vs 0 C | H not worse than C |
Chrubasik et al. 1999 (Germany) | 197 | Back pain; 56 years | 4500 and 9000 mg/day, (50 and 100 mg harpagoside per day) / placebo for 4 weeks | number of pain-free patients: H-100 18%, H-50 9%, P 5% p=.027); percentage change Arhus component pain: H-100 vs H-50 vs P NS (intention-to-treat analysis) | 10 P, 18 H-50, 17 H-100 | H better than placebo |
Chrubasik et al. 2003a (Germany) | 88 | Back pain; 62 years | 4500 mg/day, (60 mg harpagoside per day) / Rofecoxib for 6 weeks | number of pain-free patients: H 22%, Rofecoxib 11% NS; percentage change Arhus component pain: H 30%, Rofecoxib 29% (intention-to-treat analysis) | 14 H, 14 Rofecoxib | H not worse than Rofecoxib |
Schmelz and Hämmerle 1999 (Germany) | 100 | Mixed pain; not stated | 4500 mg/day, (30 mg harpagoside per day) / placebo for 30 days | free of low back pain: H n = 4, P n = 2; free of other pain: H n = 5, P n = 0 (confounders not considered) | not stated | H better than placebo |
Guyader 1984 (France) | 50 | Mixed pain; 64 years | Harpagoside content estimated indirectly as <20 mg harpagoside per day / placebo for 1–3 'cycles' of 21 days each | mean pain improvements: H 72%, P 65% (confounders not considered) | 6 H vs 3 P | H better than placebo |
Goebel et al. 2001 (Germany) | 65 | Mixed pain; 28 years | 4500 mg/day, (< 30 mg harpagoside per day) / placebo for 28 days | Â | 4 H vs 2 P | H better than placebo |