Investigating the efficacy of Commiphora mukul drops in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction

Knee osteoarthritis is the common joint disease and one of the major causes of pain and disability in the world. Regarding the people tendency to traditional medicine the present study was designed to survey the activity of Commiphora mukul (C. mukul) drops on knee osteoarthritis for the first time.

Methods

The present study was performed as a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial with 70 patients with moderate knee osteoarthritis, which divided into two groups, drug recipients and placebo. Twenty drops were administered to the placebo group and the control group was administered 20 drops of drug twice a day for 2 months. The pain, function and clinical health scores of both groups were measured at the beginning and end of the study with Visual Analogue Scale and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score evaluation scales.

Results

The intervention and control groups were similar in terms of age, gender, pain score and knee function before the intervention. Pain intensity in right and left legs was decreased and exhibited statistically significant differences before and after the intervention in both the intervention group (P < 0.001) and the control group (P < 0.01). Five indices of discomfort and dryness, pain, activity and daily activities, exercise and recreation and quality of life in the intervention group, improved (P < 0.001) though in control group the difference between indices were not significant except exercise and recreation.

Discussion/Conclusions

The consumption of C. mukul extract for 2 months was effective in relieving the symptoms of the knee osteoarthritis in patients and improve the quality of life.