Evaluation of physical stability and preliminary study on effectiveness of Benjakul cream in the treatment of primary knee osteoarthritis patients

Abstract

Introduction: Benjakul remedy is a Thai traditional medicine containing 5 herbs, these were Piper retrofractum Vahl., Piper sarmentosum Roxb. ex Hunter, Piper interruptum Opiz, Plumbago indica L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Benjakul as an oral drug had been used in the treatment of various pain treatment and was effective in treating primary osteoarthritis. It had no skin irritation when applied to the skin.
Objective: To evaluate the physical properties of the Benjakul cream and evaluate their effectiveness in the treatment of primary osteoarthritis.
Method: Benjakul cream was tested under accelerated conditions. The physical was appearance assessed these were color, phase separation and pH value. Preliminary clinical studies on the
effectiveness of Benjakul cream were performed on 15 primary knee osteoarthritis patients. Aged between 40 - 80 years. Patients received 2 g. of Benjakul remedy extract cream 3 times
per day for 14 days. The efficacy was evaluated by using visual analogue scales and, Modified Thai WOMAC Index scores, time measurement after 100 metres walking.
Result: Benjakul cream was stable under accelerated condition testing. It could reduce volunteer with knee pains after 100 metres walking, reduced time. The volunteers significantly showed better quality of life when evaluated by WOMAC index scores.
Conclusion: Benjakul cream was stable under accelerated conditions tested and was effective in the treatment of primary knee osteoarthritis.