Prakt. lékáren. 2013; 9(6): 243-246

Will be Harpagophytum root source of a well- established drug?

Luděk Jahodář

Farmaceutická fakulta UK v Hradci Králové, Katedra farmaceutické botaniky a ekologie

Devil´s claw, Harpagophytum procumbens or H. zeyheri, is the element of traditional South African´s herbal medicine. Since 70. years of

last century the drug penetrated into European official medicine, the root of the plant is currently the drug of the European Pharmacopoeia.

A broad spectrum of therapeutical indications of traditional medicine is verified by modern pharmacognostic and pharmacologic

methods including methods of clinical assessment. The definite confirmation of ethnopharmacologically declared anti-inflammatory

and analgesic effects demands supplementary studies. EMA Community Monograph evaluated the drug as Traditional herbal medicinal

product suitable for therapy of digestive disordes and minor articular pain. This article summarizes of contemporary knowledge of the

drug including its metabolites (specially harpagoside) and proposes new imvestigations confirming its medicinal value.

digestive, osteoarthritis, traditional herbal drug.

Keywords: Harpagophytum procumbens, Harpagophytum zeyheri, Devil´s claw, harpagoside, analgetic effect, anti-inflammatory effect,

Published: December 1, 2013  Show citation