Abstract
Extracts of the secondary roots of the southern African plant, Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) provide a herbal drug with a variety of traditional indications. One area of its use that has become very popular in recent years is in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the musculoskeletal system and of low back pain. There have been several clinical studies recently published that generally support its use in treating osteoarthritis although more studies are required in order to establish this drug as a definite therapeutic option. Here in this review, the pharmacological properties of Devil’s Claw are reviewed in detail and the clinical evidence is briefly summarised. There is good in vitro and in vivo pharmacological evidence of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of this drug, although some negative findings have also been reported. Generally, the pharmacological properties of Devil’s Claw is supportive of its therapeutic potential, but more evidence from clinically relevant models, as well as at the cellular and molecular level, should be sought. Such studies may provide evidence in support of additional indications, both traditional and novel. The clinical data on Devil’s Claw is also very promising.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B Baghdikian MC Lanhers J Fleurentin E Ollivier C Maillard G Balansard F Mortier (1997) ArticleTitleAn analytical study, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Harpagophytum procumbens and Harpagophytum zeyheri Planta Med 63 171–176 Occurrence Handle9140234
PB Benito AM Diaz Lanza AM Silvan en J Santos Galindez Particlede et al. (2000) ArticleTitleEffects of some Iridoids from Plant Origin on Arachidonic Acid Metabolism in Cellular Systems Planta Med 66 324–328 Occurrence Handle10.1055/s-2000-8549 Occurrence Handle10865447
BGA CEO (1989) Monographie Harpagophyti radix (Südafrikanische Teufelskrallenwurzel), BGA.
S Chrubasik C Conradt A Black (2003) ArticleTitleThe quality of clinical trials with Harpagophytum procumbens Phytomedicine 10 613–623 Occurrence Handle10.1078/094471103322331647 Occurrence Handle13678253
J Eich M Schmidt G Betti (1998) ArticleTitleHPLC Analysis of Iridoid Compounds of Harpagophytum taxa: quality control of pharmaceutical drug material Pharm Pharmacol Lett 8 75–78
O Eichler C Koch (1970) ArticleTitleAntiphlogistic, analgesic and spasmolytic effect of harpagoside, a glycoside from the root of Harpagophytum procumbens DC. Arzneimittelforschung 20 107–109 Occurrence Handle4392498
A Erdos R Fontaine H Friehe R Durand T Poppinghaus (1978) ArticleTitleContribution to the pharmacology and toxicology of different extracts as well as the harpagosid from Harpagophytum procumbens DC (author’s transl) Planta Med 34 97–108 Occurrence Handle308666
E Ernst S Chrubasik (2000) ArticleTitlePhyto-anti-inflammatories. A systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials Rheum. Dis. Clin. North Am 26 13–27 Occurrence Handle10680191
InstitutionalAuthorNameESCOP (1996) Monographs of the Medicinal Use of Plant Drugs. Harpagophyti radix–Devil‘s claw European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy Exeter, UK
InstitutionalAuthorNameESCOP (2003) Monographs of the Medicinal Use of Plant Drugs. Harpagophyti radix–Devil’s Claw European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy Exeter, UK
Feistel, B & Gaedcke F (2000) Analytische Identifizierung von Radix Harpagophyti procumbentis und zeyheri Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie 21: 246–251.
BL Fiebich M Heinrich KO Hiller N Kammerer (2001) ArticleTitleInhibition of TNF-alpha synthesis in LPS-stimulated primary human monocytes by Harpagophytum extract SteiHap 69. Phytomedicine 8 28–30 Occurrence Handle11292236
RE Guzman MG Evans S Bove B Morenko K Kilgore (2003) ArticleTitleMono-iodoacetate-induced histologic changes in subchondral bone and articular cartilage of rat femorotibial joints: an animal model of osteoarthritis Toxicol. Pathol 31 619–624 Occurrence Handle14585729
Jadot G. & Lecomte A (1992) Activé anti-inflammatoire d’Harpagophytum Procumbens D.C. Lyon Méditerranée médical médecine du sud-est.
MC Lanhers J Fleurentin F Mortier A Vinche C Younos (1992) ArticleTitleAnti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of an aqueous extract of Harpagophytum procumbens Planta Med 58 117–123 Occurrence Handle1529021
D Loew J Mollerfeld A Schrodter S Puttkammer M Kaszkin (2001) ArticleTitleInvestigations on the pharmacokinetic properties of Harpagophytum extracts and their effects on eicosanoid biosynthesis in vitro and ex vivo Clin. Pharmacol. Ther 69 356–364 Occurrence Handle10.1067/mcp.2001.115445 Occurrence Handle11372004
DW McLeod P Revell BV Robinson (1979) ArticleTitleInvestigations of Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil’s Claw) in the treatment of experimental inflammation and arthritis in the rat [proceedings] Br. J. Pharmacol 66 140P–141P Occurrence Handle454934
Morgenstern E & Pollex S (2000) Antiphlogistische und analgetische Wirkung von Teufelskrallenextrakt LI174. Poster P18, Phytopharmakaforschung 2000, Bonn 27-28.11.2002 Abstractband: 92–93.
AM Reimold (2002) ArticleTitleTNFalpha as therapeutic target: new drugs, more applications Curr. Drug Targets Inflamm. Allergy 1 377–392 Occurrence Handle10.2174/1568010023344535 Occurrence Handle14561184
R Soulimani C Younos F Mortier C Derrieu (1994) ArticleTitleThe role of stomachal digestion on the pharmacological activity of plant extracts, using as an example extracts of Harpagophytum procumbens Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol 72 1532–1536 Occurrence Handle7736345
Tippler B (1996) PhD Thesis; Harpagophytum procumbens: Wirkung von Extrakten auf die Eicosanoidbiosynthese in Ionophor A23187-stimuliertem menschlichem Vollblut. Department of Pharmakology & Toxikology, University of Bochum.
Vogel HG (2002) Drug Discovery and Evaluation, Pharmacological Assays, 2nd ed. Springer.
Wegener T (1998) Die Teufelskralle (Harpagophytum procumbens DC.) in der Therapie rheumatischer Erkrankungen. Zeitschrift für Phytotherapie 19. Jahrgang: 284–294.
T Wegener (2002) ArticleTitleDegenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system–overview of current clinical studies of Devil’s Claw (Harpagophyti radix) Wien. Med. Wochenschr 152 389–392 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1563-258X.2002.02059.x Occurrence Handle12244884
Wegener T & Winterhoff H (2001) Zubereitungen aus der südafrikanischen Teufelskralle. Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung 141. Jahrgang: 5613–5621.
Wenzel P & Wegener T (1995) Teufelskralle–Ein pflanzliches Antirheumatikum. Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung 135.
LW Whitehouse M Znamirowska CJ Paul (1983) ArticleTitleDevil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): no evidence for anti-inflammatory activity in the treatment of arthritic disease Can. Med. Assoc. J 129 249–251 Occurrence Handle6407745
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McGregor, G., Fiebich, B., Wartenberg, A. et al. Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): An Anti-Inflammatory Herb with Therapeutic Potential. Phytochem Rev 4, 47–53 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-004-2374-8
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-004-2374-8