From Bush Medicine to Modern Phytopharmaceutical: A Bibliographic Review of Devil's Claw ( Spp.)

Overview

Journal Pharmaceuticals (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Chemistry

Date 2021 Aug 28

PMID 34451822

Citations 7

Authors

Thomas Brendler

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Devil's claw ( spp., Pedaliaceae) is one of the best-documented phytomedicines. Its mode of action is largely elucidated, and its efficacy and excellent safety profile have been demonstrated in a long list of clinical investigations. The author conducted a bibliographic review which not only included peer-reviewed papers published in scientific journals but also a vast amount of grey literature, such as theses and reports initiated by governmental as well as non-governmental organizations, thus allowing for a more holistic presentation of the available evidence. Close to 700 sources published over the course of two centuries were identified, confirmed, and cataloged. The purpose of the review is three-fold: to trace the historical milestones in devil's claw becoming a modern herbal medicine, to point out gaps in the seemingly all-encompassing body of research, and to provide the reader with a reliable and comprehensive bibliography. The review covers aspects of ethnobotany, taxonomy, history of product development and commercialization, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, as well as clinical efficacy and safety. It is concluded that three areas stand out in need of further investigation. The taxonomical assessment of the genus is outdated and lacking. A revision is needed to account for intra- and inter-specific, geographical, and chemo-taxonomical variation, including variation in composition. Further research is needed to conclusively elucidate the active compound(s). Confounded by early substitution, intermixture, and blending, it has yet to be demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that both (or all) spp. are equally (and interchangeably) safe and efficacious in clinical practice.

Citing Articles

Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): is the buzz in Google justified?.

Bargsten F, Seifert R Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025; .

PMID: 40042557 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-025-03974-7.

Extraction and Processing of Bioactive Phytoconstituents from Widely Used South African Medicinal Plants for the Preparation of Effective Traditional Herbal Medicine Products: A Narrative Review.

Hlatshwayo S, Thembane N, Krishna S, Gqaleni N, Ngcobo M Plants (Basel). 2025; 14(2).

PMID: 39861559 PMC: 11768456. DOI: 10.3390/plants14020206.

Effects of a Cannabinoid-Based Phytocomplex (Pain Relief) on Chronic Pain in Osteoarthritic Dogs.

Amato R, Pacifico E, Lotito D, Iervolino V, Pierantoni L, Cortese L Animals (Basel). 2025; 15(1.

PMID: 39795044 PMC: 11718910. DOI: 10.3390/ani15010101.

The Therapeutic Potential of and and Advances in Nutraceutical Delivery Systems in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Vital Junior A, da Silva M, Monteiro S, de Bittencourt Pasquali M Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024; 17(5).

PMID: 38794230 PMC: 11125440. DOI: 10.3390/ph17050660.

Safety Aspects of Herb Interactions: Current Understanding and Future Prospects.

Hazra S, Singh P Curr Drug Metab. 2024; 25(1):28-53.

PMID: 38482621 DOI: 10.2174/0113892002289753240305062601.

References

Mncwangi N, Viljoen A, Zhao J, Vermaak I, Chen W, Khan I . What the devil is in your phytomedicine? Exploring species substitution in Harpagophytum through chemometric modeling of 1H-NMR and UHPLC-MS datasets. Phytochemistry. 2014; 106:104-115. DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.06.012. View

Wegener T . [Degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system--overview of current clinical studies of Devil's Claw (Harpagophyti radix)]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2002; 152(15-16):389-92. DOI: 10.1046/j.1563-258x.2002.02059.x. View

Weckesser S, Engel K, Simon-Haarhaus B, Wittmer A, Pelz K, Schempp C . Screening of plant extracts for antimicrobial activity against bacteria and yeasts with dermatological relevance. Phytomedicine. 2007; 14(7-8):508-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2006.12.013. View

Van Wyk B . A review of commercially important African medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015; 176:118-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.10.031. View

Chrubasik S, Conradt C, Roufogalis B . Effectiveness of Harpagophytum extracts and clinical efficacy. Phytother Res. 2004; 18(2):187-9. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1416. View

Cordier W, Steenkamp V . Drug interactions in African herbal remedies. Drug Metabol Drug Interact. 2011; 26(2):53-63. DOI: 10.1515/DMDI.2011.011. View

Ouitas N, Heard C . Estimation of the relative antiinflammatory efficacies of six commercial preparations of Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil's Claw). Phytother Res. 2009; 24(3):333-8. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2930. View

Avato P, Argentieri M . Quality Assessment of Commercial Spagyric Tinctures of and Their Antioxidant Properties. Molecules. 2019; 24(12). PMC: 6630815. DOI: 10.3390/molecules24122251. View

Gunther M, Maus M, Wagner K, Schmidt P . Hydrophilic solutes in modified carbon dioxide extraction-prediction of the extractability using molecular dynamic simulation. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2005; 25(2-3):321-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2005.03.007. View

10.

Costa De Pasquale R, Busa G, Circosta C, Iauk L, Ragusa S, Ficarra P . A drug used in traditional medicine: Harpagophytum procumbens DC. III. Effects on hyperkinetic ventricular arrhythmias by reperfusion. J Ethnopharmacol. 1985; 13(2):193-9. DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(85)90006-6. View

11.

Jang M, Lim S, Han S, Park H, Shin I, Kim J . Harpagophytum procumbens suppresses lipopolysaccharide-stimulated expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in fibroblast cell line L929. J Pharmacol Sci. 2003; 93(3):367-71. DOI: 10.1254/jphs.93.367. View

12.

Fiebich B, Heinrich M, Hiller K, Kammerer N . Inhibition of TNF-alpha synthesis in LPS-stimulated primary human monocytes by Harpagophytum extract SteiHap 69. Phytomedicine. 2001; 8(1):28-30. DOI: 10.1078/0944-7113-00002. View

13.

Ouitas N, Heard C . A novel ex vivo skin model for the assessment of the potential transcutaneous anti-inflammatory effect of topically applied Harpagophytum procumbens extract. Int J Pharm. 2009; 376(1-2):63-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2009.04.017. View

14.

Clarkson C, Campbell W, Smith P . In vitro antiplasmodial activity of abietane and totarane diterpenes isolated from Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw). Planta Med. 2003; 69(8):720-4. DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-42778. View

15.

Georgiev M, Alipieva K, Orhan I . Cholinesterases inhibitory and antioxidant activities of Harpagophytum procumbens from in vitro systems. Phytother Res. 2011; 26(2):313-6. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3555. View

16.

Kim T, Park K . Inhibitory effects of harpagoside on TNF-α-induced pro-inflammatory adipokine expression through PPAR-γ activation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Cytokine. 2015; 76(2):368-374. DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.05.015. View

17.

Viljoen A, Mncwangi N, Vermaak I . Anti-inflammatory iridoids of botanical origin. Curr Med Chem. 2012; 19(14):2104-27. PMC: 3873812. DOI: 10.2174/092986712800229005. View

18.

Torres-Fuentes C, Theeuwes W, McMullen M, McMullen A, Dinan T, Cryan J . Devil's Claw to suppress appetite--ghrelin receptor modulation potential of a Harpagophytum procumbens root extract. PLoS One. 2014; 9(7):e103118. PMC: 4113378. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103118. View

19.

Carvalho R, Donadel C, Cortez A, Valviesse V, Vianna P, Correa B . Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion induced by the phytotherapy Harpagophytum procumbers: case report. J Bras Nefrol. 2017; 39(1):79-81. DOI: 10.5935/0101-2800.20170013. View

20.

Chrubasik S . [Devil's claw extract as an example of the effectiveness of herbal analgesics]. Orthopade. 2004; 33(7):804-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00132-004-0675-7. View