Effect of Delphinium denudatum Wall. (Jadwar) on knee osteoarthritis: A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common disease of joints. The management of OA is challenging due to the efficacy and safety of treatments. In recent decades, traditional herbal medicines have been introduced for treatment of disease. Delphinium denudatum Wall. (Jadwar) is a medicinal herb with a long-lasting usage in traditional Persian medicine for joint diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Jadwar on pain and symptoms of knee OA. Methods: In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 104 patients with knee OA were randomly assigned into two groups of intervention and control. While the intervention group received one Jadwar capsule (500 mg) twice a day for four weeks, the control group received placebo capsules. The primary outcomes, including pain, stiffness, and physical activity were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline two and four weeks after the intervention. Results: Ninety-four participants completed the study. Considering the time of interaction, after four weeks, data analysis revealed a significant decrease in the VAS score (37.23±12.58 vs. 57.87±13.21), total WOMAC score (24.83±9.70 vs. 49.17±12.89), WOMAC pain score (7.19±2.90 vs. 12.40±4.46), stiffness (2.06± 0.845 vs. 4.11±1.14), and physical function (15.57±7.25 vs. 32.66±9.78) in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.0001 for all outcomes). Additionally, no serious adverse effects were reported. Conclusions: Jadwar can be suggested as a safe medicinal plant for knee OA because it can relieve the pain and symptoms of OA.