Devil's claw

Devil's claw is a perennial, prostrate, herbaceous plant from the sesame family (Pedaliaceae). It is native to the savannahs of Namibia and South Africa. Extracts of the widely ramified wuzrel plant are used as a medicinal plant with indications for musculoskeletal pain.

The tuberous storage roots (devil's claw root - Harpagophyti radix) are used phytotherapeutically.

The active ingredients are found in the secondary storage roots of the plant. These include bitter substances of the iridoid type. These include the substance harpagoside (0.1-3%). However, harpagoside is primarily responsible for the therapeutic activity. Its content is used as a reference standard.

Furthermore, procumbide and 8-para-coumaroyl harpagide. In addition, phenolic glycosides such as verbacoside and isoacteoside, free cinnamic acid, flavonoids, including kaempferol, luteolin derivatives and up to 46% stachyose.

The secondary storage root has a bitter substance value of 5000-12,000, making it one of the most bitter drugs.

In laboratory tests, extracts from devil's claw root show anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. The exact ingredients responsible for this are not yet known. It is possible that harpagoside plays the decisive role (Ungerer G et al. 2020). Experimentally, an inhibition of the prostaglandin synthesis can be proven. Interleukin-2, matrix metalloproteinases and cholinesterase are further inhibited. Among the isolates, verbascosides (5, 6 and 8), which contain a caffeoyl and a 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl group in their structure, showed effective AChE inhibitory activity. The results suggest that verbascoside derivatives may be partially related to the anti-Alzheimer effect of this medicinal plant (Bae YH et al. 2014).

Indications according to Commission E

Loss of appetite

Soft tissue rheumatism

Chronic inflammatory polyarthritis: Whether the root really helps is not scientifically proven. Human studies come to contradictory results and there is a lack of conclusive high-quality research. Nevertheless, many people report that their joint pain eases when they take devil's claw (Menghini L et al 2019).

Dyspeptic complaints: The bitter substances contained in the root stimulate digestion and increase appetite. Devil's claw is therefore traditionally used for flatulence, bloating and lack of appetite.

Furthermore, harpagoside is attributed a neuroprotective effect (Ungerer G et al. 2020).

Daily dose for loss of appetite 1.5 preparations with appropriate bitter value, otherwise 4.5g drug.

Devil's claw root can cause nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Headaches, dizziness and allergic reactions are also possible.

Duodenal ulcer, ventricular ulcer...

Commercially available are e.g. ^Rivoltan®, ^Doloteffin®, Nevridol ^®

Devil's claw is the parent plant of Harpagophyti radix, the South African devil's claw root. The devil's claw owes its name to its woody fruits, which have anchor-like hooks. These hooks allow the fruits to cling to passing animals.

The potential effects of Harpagophytum procumbens root extracts only appear after several weeks. The analgesic effect is only weakly pronounced (Schilcher 2015). The plant is not suitable for acute pain. In addition, the studies that have come to positive results show that a high dosage is necessary for any effect to be noticeable at all. Devil's claw preparations should therefore be taken as a finished medicinal product.

Tea preparations contain too small amounts of the potentially effective substances to be effective for joint pain. Tea preparations are suitable for digestive complaints such as flatulence or bloating.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/devilskralle.php
2. Wenigmann M.(2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs phytopharmaceuticals application. Urban & Fischer: 5.108 Rockweed (Meliloti herba) p 204-205.