Trial of an extract from the pentacyclic alkaloid-chemotype of uncaria tomentosa for the treatment of RA

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J Rheumatol 2002 Apr;29(4):678-81

Randomized double blind trial of an extract from the pentacyclic

alkaloid-chemotype of uncaria tomentosa for the treatment of rheumatoid

arthritis.

Mur E, Hartig F, Eibl G, Schirmer M.

Department of Internal Medicine, Innsbruck University Hospital, Austria.

erich.mur@...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety and clinical efficacy of a plant extract

from the pentacyclic chemotype of Uncaria tomentosa (UT) in patients

with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Forty patients

undergoing sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine treatment were enrolled

in a randomized 52 week, 2 phase study. During the first phase (24

weeks, double blind, placebo controlled), patients were treated with UT

extract or placebo. In the second phase (28 weeks) all patients received

the plant extract. RESULTS: Twenty-four weeks of treatment with the UT

extract resulted in a reduction of the number of painful joints compared

to placebo (by 53.2% vs 24.1%; p = 0.044). Patients receiving the UT

extract only during the second phase experienced a reduction in the

number of painful (p = 0.003) and swollen joints (p = 0.007) and the

Ritchie Index (p = 0.004) compared to the values after 24 weeks of

placebo. Only minor side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: This small

preliminary study demonstrates relative safety and modest benefit to the

tender joint count of a highly purified extract from the pentacyclic

chemotype of UT in patients with active RA taking sulfasalazine or

hydroxychloroquine.

PMID: 11950006