BITTER KOLA MIXTURE PREVENTS LIVER DAMAGE AND OSTEOARTHRITIS.

Researchers have found that a
mixture of bitter kola and original honey
protects the liver from paracetamol-
induced damage and treat knee
osteoarthritis.
IN recent times the incidence of liver,
kidney and indeed body organ damage has
been on the rise. This has been linked to
ingestion of toxic chemicals or poisons such
as drug overdose and over alcohol
indulgence.
But Nigerian researchers have
demonstrated how a mixture of bitter kola
(Garcinia kola) and honey protects the liver
from damage caused by the consumption
of toxic substances and drugs.
The study published recently in Nigerian
Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology is titled “Protective Effect of
Garcinia kola Seed and Honey Mixture
Against Paracetamol-induced Hepatotoxicity
in Rats.”
The researchers concluded: “Garcinia kola
seed (GKS), honey or a mixture of both
acted as anti-hepatotoxic agent because it
was able to significantly reduce the
elevated serum total bilirubin concentration
and enzyme activities in rats exposed to
paracetamol treatment. The observed anti-
hepatotoxic activity might be linked to the
presence of flavonoids in both GKS and
honey.”
The study researchers include D. G.
Eminedoki, A. A. Uwakwe and Gloria O. Ibe
of the
Department of Biochemistry, University Of
Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Nigerian researchers have also found that
bitter kola could be used to treat
osteoarthritis. The study titled “Clinical
effects of Garcinia kola in knee
osteoarthritis” was published in Journal of
Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
The researchers from Obafemi Awolowo
University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-
Ife, Osun State concluded: “Garcinia kola
clinically appeared to have a significant
analgesic/anti-inflammatory effects in knee
osteoarthritis patients. Garcinia kola is a
potential osteoarthritis disease modifier.
This study shows that Garcinia kola is
effective in improving locomotors function
and significant pain reduction in patients
with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Further study
is required for standardisation of dosages
of Garcinia kola in knee Osteoarthritis (KOA).
Liver is the main body organ responsible
for the metabolism of drugs. Every drug is
known to be associated with hepatotoxicity
almost certainly due to the ability of drugs
to generate free radicals and to cause a
disturbance in hepatocyte biochemistry.
Consequently, this subjects the liver to a
variety of diseases and disorders.
In recent times, researchers have been
motivated to consider the therapeutic
effects of a number of medicinal plants that
are claimed to possess protective
characteristics against liver disorders
caused by toxic substances. One of such
medicinal plants is Garcinia kola, which was
chosen in this study. In addition, honey was
chosen because in traditional medicine it is
used alone or in combination with other
substances, such as Garcinia kola seed, for
the treatment of a number of human
ailments.
Garcinia kola is a fruit-bearing tree that
belongs to the family Guttiferae. It is found
in moist forests and grows as a medium
sized tree up to 14m high. The plant is
commonly called “bitter kola” in Nigeria
because of the bitter taste of its seeds.
Garcinia kola seed (hereafter referred to as
GKS) has long been used in sub- Saharan
Africa as an antidote for ingested poison,
and as a cure for a number of ailments and
conditions such as abdominal colicky pain,
chest cold, cough and hepatitis.
The documented and suggested clinical uses
of GKS include drug detoxification,
bronchodilation (for asthma), liver
disorders, male virility, blood sugar
regulation, lipid disorders, infectious
diseases, boosting of immune system and
weight reduction. Most of the reported
bioactivities associated with GKS are
believed to be related to the presence of
biflavonoids, which are well known for
their antioxidant activities.
Honey is a natural product that is widely
available in different parts of the world, and
is readily obtained from natural or cultured
bee colonies. Honey has a very long history
of use as a medicinal substance due partly
to its ability to inhibit microbial growth. It
has been reported to be very successful in
treating human burns, wounds and ulcers. It
has also been found to exhibit antioxidant
activity due to its high content of
flavonoids.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely
used as a hepatotoxic agent for the
screening of the antihepatotoxic activity of
a wide variety of traditional medicinal
plants. It has been generally reported and
accepted that one of the possible
mechanisms that may be involved in
paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity has to
do with the generation of oxidised reactive
intermediates, and compounds having
antioxidant, free radical scavenging and
anti-lipoperoxidative properties are known
to exhibit anti-hepatotoxic activities.
Phytochemical analysis shows that both GKS
and honey contain high concentrations of
flavonoids, which are compounds having
strong antioxidant activity (Iwu and
Igboko, 1982; Ajadi and Kamaruddin, 2004).
The presence of these strong antioxidants
might be responsible for the observed anti-
hepatotoxic potential of GKS, honey or a
mixture of both.
Both GKS and honey have high contents of
strong antioxidants, and have been
reported to exhibit anti- hepatotoxic
activities in laboratory animals exposed to
hepatotoxic agents. However, in an
extensive review of related literature, no
documented evidence was found to show
that the mixture of GKS and honey could
protect animal livers against toxin-induced
hepatotoxicity. This study was therefore
undertaken to investigate the
hepatoprotective potential of GKS, honey or
a mixture of both against paracetamol-
induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
Meanwhile, over the past years, there has
been a growing number of knee
osteoarthritis (KOA) patients who are not
willing to comply with long-term non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
treatment and wish to use herbal anti-
rheumatic medicine. This study assessed the
clinical effects of Garcinia kola (GK) in KOA
patients.
Prospective randomised, placebo controlled,
double blind, clinical trial approved by the
institutional medical ethics review board
and written informed consent obtained
from each patient. All KOA patients
presenting at the Obafemi Awolowo
University Teaching Hospital complex were
recruited into the study. The patients were
grouped into four (A = Placebo, B =
Naproxen, C = Garcinia kola, D = Celebrex).
The drugs and placebo were given twice a
day per oral route. Each dose consisted of
200 mg of G. kola, Naproxen (500 mg),
Celebrex (200 mg) and Ascorbic acid (100
mg). The primary outcome measure over
six weeks study period was the change in
mean WOMAC pain visual analogue scales
(VAS). Secondary outcome measures
included the mean change in joint stiffness
and physical function (mobility/walking).