Effects of Arctium lappa L. (Burdock) root tea on inflammatory status and oxidative stress in patients with knee osteoarthritis

AimThis study was designed to examine the effect of Burdock root tea on inflammatory markers and oxidative stress indicators in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). MethodsThirty-six patients (10 men and 26 women) aged 50-70years old with knee osteoarthritis referred to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Hospitals, were selected for the study and randomly divided into two groups. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured. For all individuals along the 42days of study period, the same drug treatments, including two lots of 500mg acetaminophen twice a day and one glucosamine 500mg once a day,were considered. The intervention group received daily three cups of Burdock root tea (each cup containing 2g/150mL boiled water) half-hour after the meal. The control group received three cups containing 150cc boiled water daily. We assessed inflammatory markers such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and oxidative stress indicators such as total antioxidants capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances before and after the intervention. ResultsThe results showed that burdock root tea significantly decreased the levels of serum IL-6 (P=0.002), hs-CRP (P=0.003) and malondialdehyde (P<0.001), while the levels of serum TAC (P<0.001) and activities of SOD (P=0.009) were significantly increased. GPX activities increased but not significantly. ConclusionsThe results suggested that Arctium lappa L. root tea improves inflammatory status and oxidative stress in patients with knee osteoarthritis.