**3. Discussion and conclusion**

Groups

**Figure 2.** Knee pain on standing as measured by 100-mm visual analog scale at baseline and after 6 weeks and 12

Additionally blood sample was checked in both groups. There were no statistically significant

Hb Mean±SE, (g/L) 131.66±5.8 135.8±6.5 134.8+5.9 113.15±6.5 Hematocrit Mean±SE (%) 39.28±0.9 40.03±1.0 38.8±0.9 37.85±1.0 WBC Mean±SE (109/L) 7.7±0.5 6.4±0.5 6.38±0.5 5.6±0.5 ESR Mean±SE (mm/h) 23.77±3.6 20.06±4.0 19.31±3.8 18.76±4.1

**Table 3.** Comparison of blood samples between both groups in the study.

**Baseline data After 12 weeks A B A B n=22 n=18 n=20 n=18**

4.42±0.9 4.46±1 4.31±0,09 4.2±1

BA

Time (weeks)

Baseline

After 6 w eeks

After 12 w eeks

Mean +- 2 SE Pain on standing (mm)

70

260 Pharmacology and Nutritional Intervention in the Treatment of Disease

60

50

40

30

weeks. Bars shows means with 2 SE (mm)

changes between groups.

Erytrocytes, Mean±SE, (10

[ 12]/L) Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a well-known spice plant, has been used traditionally in a wide variety of ailments including hypertension and osteoarthritis. Gingerol, the active components of ginger, derivatives are currently under investigation as potential drug therapy for disorders of platelet function, but the small amounts consumed in the diet are unlikely to influence platelet function. We report here the osteoarthritis effects of Zingiber officinale and Alpinia galanga tablets under controlled experimental conditions.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a debilitating progressive disease principally affecting the elderly. Osteoarthritis therapy has evolved in the past few decades from symptomatic treatment to possible disease-modifying solutions. Osteoarthritis continues to be a difficult disorder to treat, as there is no cure as such and current treatments focus mainly on relieving pain and maintaining joint function. The search nevertheless continues for management regimens that can slow, alter or reverse the degenerative processes of osteoar‐ thritis. Experimental therapies that seek to modify the course of osteoarthritis. These include such medications as colchicine, bisphosphonates and hormones. Dietary therapeutics, such as ginger extract also has been suggested. Current approaches to treating osteoarthritis-i.e. medications; nonpharmacological modalities, such as physical therapy, exercise, weight management and orthotics; and (as a last resort) surgery-focus on reducing pain and improv‐ ing (or at least maintaining) mobility

Musculoskeletal conditions are prevalent and their impact is pervasive. They are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability. The prevalence of many of these conditions increases markedly with age, and many are affected by lifestyle factors, such as obesity and lack of physical activity. The increasing number of older people and the changes in lifestyle throughout the world mean that the burden on people and society will increase dramatically. This has been recognized by the United Nations and WHO, with their endorse‐ ment of Bone and Joint Decade 2000–2010 [30]. Osteoarthritis was estimated to be the eighth leading non-fatal burden of disease in the world in 1990, accounting for 2.8% of total years of living with disability, around the same percentage as schizophrenia and congenital anomalies [31]. It was the sixth leading cause of years of living with disability at the global level, ac‐ counting for 3% of the total global years of living with disability [32], [33], [34]. According to the American Holistic Medical Association it is believed that the spiritual element should also be taken into account when assessing a person's overall well-being [35], [36]. Ginger is an herb which has been used for centuries in Ayurdevic medicine to relieve the pain of arthritis although few studies are available to demonstrate its benefits. There appears to be good evidence from epidemiological studies and clinical trials that Zingiber officinale and Alpinia galanga tablets lower osteoarthritis tendency. The mechanism of action is believed to be due to the inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis. Zingiber officinale and Alpinia galanga was also tested for antibacterial activities by evaluating growth delays using human strains of the genera Staphylococcus and Micrococcus. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be sensitive to the ginger extract. When the extract was tested for the haemolytic effect, no lytic effects on procaryotic cells were found. Patients suffering from such disorders reported relief in pain and associated symptoms on extract administration. No significant side effects of supplementation were noted, which may be considered as adjuvant therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. In this study ginger extract may have a beneficial effective in treatment for osteoarthritis. However, more observational studies, with a larger sample size, are needed to confirm the encouraging preliminary data on effectiveness and safety. The use of Zingiber officinale and Alpinia galanga in osteoarthritis will reduce the symptoms to an equivalent extent in elderly people with osteoarthritis.

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Pharmacological and Clinical Effectiveness of *Zingiber officinale* and *Alpinia galanga* in Patients with Osteoarthritis

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/58417

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