Proprietary herbal blend called Karallief Easy Climb supports joint tissue and inflammation in animal osteoarthritis model

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A study recently published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research¹ found that supplementation with a blend of herbal extracts called Karallief Easy Climb (KEC) supported joint health in an osteoarthritis animal model. The study, 20 rats were divided into four groups, a control group, a positive control group, a standard care group, and the experimental group. Rats in the positive control group had osteoarthritis induced with an injection of Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the right knee joint without any treatment. The standard group received the MIA injection with Diclofenac treatment, and the experimental group received the MIA injection with KEC, which is composed of a blend of standardized proprietary extracts of Cardio spermumhalicacabum, Boswellia serrata, Vitexne gundo, Bambusa arundinacea, Curcuma longa, and Citrus sinensis.

Researchers observed the subjects for clinical signs, measure biochemical parameters of hyaluronic acid, glycosaminoglycan, serum creatine kinase, akaline phosphatase levels, as well as collagen and uronic acid levels in synovial fluid, and performed a histopathological evaluation of the subjects’ knees. Results showed that compared to positive control, subjects in the treatment groups saw a significant decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine kinase (CK-Nac), glycosaminoglycan, and hyaluronic acid. Treatment groups also saw a significant increase in collagen, while the KEC group also saw a decrease in D-glucuronic acid levels in synovial fluid.

In the histopathological observation, subjects in the positive control group exhibited partial damage of the synovial membrane, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the articular tissue and synovial space, cartilage erosion, and synovial hyperplasia, as well as pannus formation. Researchers observed that treatment with KEC protected the normal texture of synovial membrane, and the group exhibited relatively little damage to cartilage surface.

According to the researchers, subjected injected with MIA had elevated N-acetyl-cystein-(NAC)-activated creatine kinase (CK-Nac) levels in the blood, indicative of muscle damage and inflammation (including the joints). Subjects treated with KEC has significantly lower levels of CK which could indicate that the herbal blend has a role in reducing inflammation in the muscles. While subjects in the KEC group saw a reduction in hyaluronic acid in the bloodstream, researchers believe this may also be indicative of the blend’s ability to support joint health.

“This could indicate that KEC may have helped significantly reduce joint degradation and may also help in supporting the rebuilding of the joint tissue. Hence more HA is available at the joints (especially in the synovial fluid). Synovial fluid helps to keep the joints lubricated by decreasing the friction between the articular cartilages,” the researchers write. “This could be one explanation for the mechanism of action of KEC in helping build strong and more mobile joints - by increasing the synovial fluid viscosity and, consequently, joint lubrication. This mechanism of action goes beyond just reducing the symptoms of OA (such as joint pain), but shows that the product may be addressing the root cause of OA, which is degenerated and rigid joints.”

Reference

1. Rajendran K et al. "Mechanism of action of a multi-herbal extract blend (Karallief Easy Climb) in supporting joint health." International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, vol. 13, no. 5 (May 1, 2022): 2020-2028