Title:Standardised ido-BR1 Cucumber Extract Improved Parameters Linked to
Moderate Osteoarthritis in a Placebo-controlled Study
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Author(s): Robert James Nash*, Amelie Mafongang, Harinder Singh, Madeleine Singwe-Ngandeu, Yana Boycheva Penkova, Taranjeet Kaur and Junai Akbar
Affiliation:
- PhytoQuest Limited, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY233EB, UK;
Keywords:
Q-ActinTM, cucumber, osteoarthritis, Cucumis sativus, iminosugar, idoBR1.
Abstract:
Background: According to the World Health Organization, osteoarthritis (OA) is one of
the 10 most disabling diseases in developed countries, with worldwide estimates of 9.6% prevalence
in men and 18.0% in women over 60 years old. Its management is not well established and involves
the use of high doses of painkillers coupled with anti-inflammatory agents.
Objective: In the search for alternatives to manage the disease, previous studies have shown superior
properties of Q-ActinTM in managing OA-related pain compared with standard treatments. Qactin
is a cucumber extract with the anti-inflammatory iminosugar idoBR1 standardised to over 1%.
This study investigated the effects of different doses (20 mg, 100 mg) of Q-Actin in a longitudinal
placebo-controlled experiment.
Methods: There were 101 patients with knee OA enrolled for the 180-day study, with 91 patients
completing it. Patients were grouped into a placebo group (PLBO), as well as a 20mg dose (Q-Actin
1) and 100 mg dose (Q-Actin 2) groups. The PLBO group received cellulose in capsules identical to
the Q-Actin capsules.
Results: There was a significant improvement in the pain-related parameters over time that was
dose-dependent.
Conclusion: This study clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of Q-Actin compared to placebo in
the management of pain related to moderate osteoarthritis.
