Potential of Nutraceuticals and Medicinal Plants in the Management of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of joint disease in the elderly, is a progressive destructive process characterized by metabolic and structural changes in the cartilage, bone and articular surfaces. The management of OA involves both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches of therapy. Such modes of therapy may prove ineffective in some patients and moreover, have been found to be associated with serious side effects. Due to such problems, more patients have nowadays been found to resort towards complimentary/alternative medicines (CAM), which include the use of nutraceuticals as well as medicinal plants. Such approach has been reported to be not only effective at relieving the pain symptoms associated with OA but may also prove to be more safe and effective than conventional treatment options. In the present review, an attempt has been made to include the available literature on the effectiveness as well as molecular targets of nutraceuticals and medicinal plants in the management of OA.