Wednesday Aug 27, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Scientists at the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, USA reported in Journal of Medicinal Food that a herbal supplement called UP446-a made of Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu extracts can help patients with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis to reduce pain and stiffness and improve mobility.

For the study, 79 men and women aged 40 to 90 years old with mild-to moderate osteoarthritis  were treated with either 500 mg/day of the UP446 supplement or 440 mg/day of naproxen for one week.  Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used to relieve pain, fever, swelling and stiffness.

To assess the efficacy of the supplement, pain, knee range of motion (ROM), and overall physical activity were evaluated and blood samples were analyzed for inflammatory and disease biomarkers at baseline and at the end of the trial.

The study found osteoarthritis patients who used UP446 decreased pain and increased knee range of motion.  Both the supplement and naproxen reduced stiffness.

The study concluded "UP446 is effective in reducing the physical symptoms associated with knee OA (osteoarthritis)."

Early tsudies have shown that long term supplementation with the extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu reduces joint discomfort, stiffness, and inflammation and thus improves mobility in the osteoarthritis patients, according to the study report.  (David Liu, PHD)

Arjmandi BH, Ormsbee LT, Elam ML, Campbell SC, Rahnama N, Payton ME, Brummel-Smith K, Daggy BP.  A combination of Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu extracts for short-term symptomatic relief of joint discomfort associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.   J Med Food. 2014 Jun;17(6):707-13.