Content of Active Substance in Preparations from Harpagophytum procumbens

Author(s): Sporer, F., Wink, M.

Abstract: Thirty-one prescriptions from Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) of different manufacturers were analyzed by HPLC. According to this evaluation, the drugs contain different amounts of extract compounds, the iridoglycosides (e. g. harpagoside) appear to be responsible for the biological activity of the plant extract. The daily consumed amount of harpagoside in Harpagophytum extract for oral application varies between 0.2 and 50 mg. As an analgesic effectiveness has been proved with doses of 50 mg/day harpagoside only, it remains questionable if an oral application with a lower amount is clinically effective, especially if parenterally administered homoeopathic drugs, which contain harpagoside only in micrograms, are employed. The orally daily consumed maximum dose is 2.4 mg. In dissolutions higher than D6, compounds of the original extract are no longer detectable.The «Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel» requires prior to licensing the drug that the daily consumed amount of drug is based on4.5 g drug (or related preparations). The analyses demonstratethat during preparation of the drug for oral use the amount of effective compounds decreases and that most of the drugs offer an insufficient amount of extract and/or effective compounds.

Keyword(s): Teufelskralle

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