A Brazilian Plant May Help Treat, And Even Protect Against, Arthritis

New research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology has suggested that Joseph’s coat, a plant used in traditional Brazilian medicine, appears to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. 

It could be useful for treating and even protecting arthritic joints, the paper says. 

The plant grows along Brazil’s coastline, and has historically been used to treat inflammation, microbial infections, and parasitic diseases, the paper reads.

But this paper adds more scientific evidence to these uses. 

Why can Joseph’s coat help with arthritis? 

In this paper, scientists first looked at the chemical makeup of the plant. 

They identified the bioactive parts of Joseph’s coat, or isolated the compounds which seemed to have the most medicinal effects.

Then, they found that an ethanolic extract made from the plant helped to reduce inflammation in laboratory animals. 

Arthritis is linked to inflammation in affected joints, which can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced movement.

That’s why steroid injections are sometimes used as a short-term way to manage arthritis pain.

“In the experimental models, we observed reduced oedema, improved joint parameters, and modulation of inflammatory mediators, suggesting antioxidant and tissue-protective actions,” associate professor Arielle Cristina Arena, who co-authored the study, said. 

Additionally, the extract they gave to animals appeared to be safe.

The researchers think this could be a strong enough basis on which to begin preclinical research on how Joseph’s coat could affect humans.

Does that mean it’ll definitely treat arthritis in humans? 

Not definitely. Though the paper said an ethanolic extract made from Joseph’s coat “exhibits significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-arthritic activities, supporting its traditional use and potential as a safe ethnopharmacological resource,” this was only shown in animals. 

Much more research will be needed to see whether it works in humans and how much, in what form, and at what dose it could help us. 

“Further studies should focus on compound isolation, chronic toxicity, and pharmacokinetics,” the study ended.