Supplement Review: Cissus quadrangularis reduces joint pain, arthritis, and promotes weight loss

by Brett Holland, PT, DPT, CSCS

Cissus quadrangularis is a medicinal plant traditionally used in India to help heal bone fractures and injuries.  More recently Cissus quadrangularis has been examined in the areas of weight loss, healing of fractures, and reduction in inflammatory levels.  Here is a look at some of the benefits of Cissus quadrangularis.

Cissus quadrangularis and joint/bone related issues:

• A 2013 study examined the effects of CQ in 29 exercise-trained men with chronic joint related pain.  The subjects supplemented 3.2 grams of CQ per day for 8 weeks.  CQ significantly reduced the subjects joint related pain [1].
• A more recent 2015 study (in rats) confirmed the anti-inflammatory properties of CQ and demonstrated the anti-arthritic potential of CQ [2].
• CQ has been show to accelerate the healing process of fractures [3].
• In addition, CQ has been shown to down-regulate pro-inflammatory mediators [4].

Cissus quadrangularis and weight loss

• In a double-blind randomized controlled trial on 123 overweight and obese subjects, CQ supplementation was found to significantly reduce bodyweight and central obesity (important for cardiovascular health), improve blood glucose levels, improve total cholesterol, and improve triglycerides [5].
• Several follow-up studies have also showed similar results.  Essentially CQ helps improve glucose tolerance, reduce bodyweight, improve lipids, and ultimately improves cardiovascular risk factors [6,7].

Safety of Cissus quadrangularis use:

• A 2013 review of the safety of CQ use stated, “Based on studies to date, Cissus extracts appear to be exceedingly safe and free of adverse effects at the doses commonly used”[8].

Summary:

It appears at this time that Cissus quadrangularis would benefit athletes and people whom are training at high levels of intensity and suffer joint related pain.  In my opinion, CQ is a great addition if you are training with heavier weights or doing lots of running and jumping activities which are stressful to the joints.  In this respect, CQ may help prevent future arthritis and reduce inflammatory levels associated with training.  Additionally it appears at this time CQ helps overweight and obese people lose weight, improve lipids, and get healthier.

References

1. Bloomer, Richard J., Tyler M. Farney, Cameron G. Mccarthy, and Sang-Rok Lee. “Cissus Quadrangularis Reduces Joint Pain in Exercise-Trained Men: A Pilot Study.” The Physician and Sportsmedicine 41.3 (2013): 29-35. PubMed.
2. Kumar, Rohit, Yogendra Kumar Gupta, Surender Singh, and S. Arunraja. “Cissus Quadrangularis Attenuates the Adjuvant Induced Arthritis by down Regulating Pro-inflammatory Cytokine and Inhibiting Angiogenesis.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 175 (2015): 346-55. PubMed.
3. Singh, Nimisha, Vibha Singh, Rk Singh, Ab Pant, Us Pal, Laxmanr Malkunje, and Gagan Mehta. “Osteogenic Potential of Cissus Qudrangularis Assessed with Osteopontin Expression.” National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery Natl J Maxillofac Surg 4.1 (2013): 52. PubMed.
4. Bhujade, Arti M., Suhas Talmale, Naresh Kumar, Geetika Gupta, P. Reddanna, Samar K. Das, and M.b. Patil. “Evaluation of Cissus Quadrangularis Extracts as an Inhibitor of COX, 5-LOX, and Proinflammatory Mediators.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 141.3 (2012): 989-96. Pubmed.
5. Oben, Julius, Dieudonne Kuate, Gabriel Agbor, Claudia Momo, and Xavio Talla. “The Use of a Cissus Quadrangularis Formulation in the Management of Weight Loss and Metabolic Syndrome.” Lipids Health Dis. (2006): n. pag. PubMed.
6. Oben JE, Enyegue DM, Fomekong GI, Soukontoua YB, Agbor GA. The effect of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) and a Cissus formulation (CORE) on obesity and obesity-induced oxidative stress. Lipids Health Dis. 2007;6:4. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-6-4.
7. Oben, Julius E., Judith L. Ngondi, Claudia N. Momo, Gabriel A. Agbor, and Caroline Sobgui. “The Use of a Cissus Quadrangularis/Irvingia Gabonensis Combination in the Management of Weight Loss: A Double-blind Placebo-controlled Study.” Lipids Health Dis Lipids in Health and Disease 7.1 (2008): 12. PubMed.
8. Stohs, Sidney J., and Sidhartha D. Ray. “A Review and Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Cissus Quadrangularis Extracts.” Phytother. Res. Phytotherapy Research 27.8 (2012): 1107-114. PubMed.