Table 3.

Clinical studies on the effects of bioactive compounds in osteoarthritis patients.

Plant Name	Sample/Cohort	Supplementation	Effect	References
Curcuma longa	n = 101 (randomized, placebo-controlled)	500 mg of standardized curcumin extract twice daily	Significant reduction in knee pain, improved physical function, 37% reduced analgesic use compared to 13% in placebo group	[69]
	Meta-analysis	Bioavailable turmeric extract	As effective as paracetamol for pain relief, more effective in reducing CRP and TNF-α	[71,72,73]
	Meta-analysis, 11 RCTs, 1258 participants	Low (<1000 mg)- and high (≥1000 mg)-dose curcumin	Better pain relief than NSAIDs, similar effects across doses, curcumin recommended as adjunctive treatment for knee OA	[74]
Boswellia serrata	Meta-analysis, 7 trials, n = 545	100–250 mg of BSE for 4 weeks	Effective in reducing pain, improving joint function, and reducing inflammation in OA patients	[76]
	Meta-analysis, 9 RCTs n = 712	Aflapin® (BSE suplementation, 20% AKBA)	Effective in managing OA symptoms	[92]
	n = 43 (randomized and double-blind)	333 mg of SLBSP (100 mg of BSE) WokVel™ vs. 333 mg of standardized BSE, three time daily for two months	significant symptomatic relief for knee osteoarthritis, improving pain and function scores as measured by the WOMAC and VAS scales	[96]
Zingiber officinale	n = 43 (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled)	30 mL of G-Rup® syrup (containing 150 mg/mL of ginger extract), administered twice daily for twelve week.	Significant improvements in pain scores and physical function compared to placebo	[114]
	Meta-analysis, 3 RCTs, n = 330	Ginger supplementation	Reduces pain and enhances quality of life without significant adverse effects	[113]
	n = 120 (double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial)	500 mg ginger extract twice daily (3 months)	Significant reduction in pain intensity, improved mobility, and reduced TNF-α and IL-1β serum levels	[115]
Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables	Meta-analysis, 4 RCTs, n = 664	300 mg ASU, Average trial duration was 6 months (range: 3 to 12 months)	Significant improvement in VAS and Lequesne index in knee OA, not hip OA. Safe treatment with no difference in adverse events compared to placebo	[126]
	Meta-analysis, 5 RCTs, n = 1095	300–600 mg/day of ASU, 3 months to 3 years	Beneficial effect in symptomatic knee OA but not hip OA, no significant difference in adverse events vs. placebo	[127]
Tea extracts (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG))	n = 50 (Randomized, open-label, active-controlled clinical trial)	Green tea extract 1500 mg + diclofenac 100mg/day for 4 weeks	Significant reductions in pain, improved physical function, though limited impact on joint stiffness over short periods	[147]
Harpagoside (from Harpagophytum procumbens)	n = 122 (double-blind, randomized, multicenter)	2.6 g of HP extract (Harpadol®) daily for 4 months	Significant improvement in pain and functional disability, as effective as diacerein, fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to NSAIDs	[155]
	n = 75 (Open-label)	2.4 g of HP extract (Doloteffin™) daily for 12 weeks	Significant improvements in pain, stiffness, and physical function, favorable safety profile	[156]
	n = 38 (randomized-controlled trial)	Two tablets of HP procumbens (2 × 480 mg) Teltonal® daily for 1 month	Significant improvement in pain and function, as effective as meloxicam, high patient satisfaction with minimal side effects	[157]
Resveratrol	n = 142 (randomized placebo-controlled trial)	40 mg twice daily for 1 week, then 20 mg twice daily for 6 month.	No significant difference in knee pain reduction between RSV and placebo groups at 3 and 6 months	[172]