<p>The Use of a New Food-Grade Lecithin Formulation of Highly Standardized Ginger (<em>Zingiber officinale</em>) and <em>Acmella oleracea</em> Extracts for the Treatment of Pain and Inflammation in a Group of Subjects with Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis</p>

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a new food-grade lecithin formulation of standardized extracts of Zingiber officinale and Acmella oleracea on pain and inflammation. Patients and Methods: Pilot study with one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design in which 50 subjects with moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA) (mean age: 62.46±8.45) were supplied for four weeks with two tablets/day. Results: Primary outcomes were 1) the evaluation of pain intensity, by a 30-day visual analogue scale (VAS) and 2) the assessment of knee function by WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis) Index and by Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring collected at baseline, at 15 and 30 days after treatment. Secondary outcomes were 3) health-related quality of life, by the ShortForm36 (SF-36); 4) inflammation grade by C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); and 5) body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured at baseline and 30 days after treatment. Data showed significant effects of supplement intake for WOMAC (β=−3.27, p<0.0001), Lysholm (β=1.06, p=0.0003), CRP (β=−0.13, p=0.006), ESR (β=−3.09, p=0.004), physical activity (β=4.3, p=0.009) and fat-free mass (β=376.7, p=0.046). A significant VAS's decrease over time was observed in both knees (left: β=−0.08, p<0.0001; right: β=−0.07, p<0.0001). Conclusion: The tested formulation seems to be effective and also free of side effects.

Chitosan and Lecithin Ameliorate Osteoarthritis Symptoms Induced by Monoiodoacetate in a Rat Model

“…A lecithin formulation with some standardized natural extracts had a distinguished and marked effect on reducing the knee OA symptoms (both pain and knee function), due to the anti-inflammatory activity showed by a reduction of inflammation markers (CRP) [53], similar to the results obtained in our current study for the OA group treated with Lecithin, with a greater reduction in inflammatory markers in the case of treatment with both chitosan and lecithin. These results are very interesting, novel and appealing, and so we can hypothesize that the decrease of pain and the improvement of the knee function in the case of treatment of OA animals with both Chitosan and lecithin demonstrates their synergistic effect in the alleviation of OA pain.…”

Integration with Spilanthes Achmella in fibromyalgia syndrome: open-label study six months after the treatment

“…A 30-day supplementation with Z. officinale and A. oleracea led to significant improvements both on primary endpoints like Pain Intensity and knee function indexes, and secondary outcomes as C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate biomarkers, related to inflammation, along with a good safety profile. 20 In conclusion, these data together with the results of our study indicate a strong rationale for the use of Z. officinale and A. oleracea as a natural adjuvant in pain management to relieve the symptoms caused by fibromyalgia syndrome. The lack of a statistically significant difference between the third and sixth month of treatment sets the stage for further studies for a possible dosage adjustment in this disease.…”

Phytosomes as Innovative Delivery Systems for Phytochemicals: A Comprehensive Review of Literature

“…The formulation showed positive effects on physical activity and improvement of inflammatory biomarkers with no side effects. 268 Non-loaded liposomes have been studied for their ability to improve osteoblast adiposity and mineralization. Several liposomal formulations were synthesized using phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and derivatives, and glycerol-phosphoethanolamine, and the effect on osteoblast differentiation and inflammatory condition was assessed.…”