Citrullus colocynthis, an effective treatment for gouty arthritis

Abstract

Background: Gouty arthritis is widespread throughout the globe. This disorder leaves the patient with severe pain so that none of the usual pain remedies can help it. The present study was undertaken to investigate the therapeutic effect of Citrullus colocynthis on it to introduce a simple, effective, and economical approach to treatment. Method: In this randomized clinical trial, 60 patients diagnosed with gout were included, and divided into control and experimental groups. A purine diet was applied for both groups; the treatment was a capsule containing 300 mg grounded dried Citrullus colocynthis, and the placebo was an identical capsule containing starch; both were given for one month, three times a day. Data were collected by demographic questionnaire, health history form, the visual analog scale of pain, and laboratory assessment of serum uric acid. Independent t-test, paired t-test, and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean scores of pain intensity in the experimental group before and after intervention (P < 0.001). The mean of serum uric acid decreased in both groups, but was statically described only in the intervention group the data were strongly significant (P < 0.001). In the control group, this figure decreased from 890.88 ± 23.65 to 824.88 ± 19.05 owing to the prescribed diet (P = 0.057). Conclusion: Although diet can play an important role in reducing serum uric acid, the treatment requires considering both immune reaction and serum uric acid as it was approached by administering herbal medicine of Citrullus colocynthis by reducing both perceived pain and serum uric acid.

Keywords

• Citrullus colocynthis
• Gout
• Pain
• Arthritis
• Uric acid