Cararthron®: Active Ingredients
Cararthron® is a new improved formula of a clinically proven natural
product to assist arthritis relief. It contains a blend of Scutellaria baicalensis and
Acacia catechu, both of which have been used traditionally in oriental and ayurvedic
medicine for their anti-inflammatory properties.
The active ingredients of these plant extracts are natural anti-inflammatory agents
called flavonoids and flavans [1]. Scutellaria baicalensis contains the
flavonoids — baicalin, baicalein and wogonin, and Acacia catechu contains
the flavonoids — catechin and epicatechin. They work by inhibiting all 3 enzymatic
pathways involved in inflammation (COX-1, COX-2 and LOX),[2] and they also help
slow the breakdown of cartilage in the joints [3],[4].
This blend of plant extracts has undergone extensive preclinical and clinical testing.
Recent randomised double-blind clinical trials confirm the encouraging results from
preclinical studies [5],[6]. This natural product is at least as effective
as NSAIDs in helping to reduce the symptoms of arthritis such as pain and stiffness,
and increasing mobility [5,6]. Moreover, Cararthron® has
an excellent safety profile, and reassuringly the incidence of gastrointestinal
(GI) side effects during 3 months was zero [6].
Scutellaria Baicalensis
It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where
it has the name huáng qín (Chinese: 
).
Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi contains wogonin, a flavone which was found in one
study to have anxiolytic properties in mice at doses of 7.5 to 30 mg/kg, without
exhibiting the sedative and muscle-relaxing properties of benzodiazepines.
Acacia Catechu
Acacia catechu contains the flavonoids epicatechin and catcechin, and has been used
in traditional ayurvedic medicine practices. Widely used in treating skin related
disorders, it is also a good anti-inflammatory herb, and offers relief from swelling
References
- Lim H, et al. Inhibition of chronic skin inflammation by topical anti-inflammatory
flavonoid preparation, Ato Formula. Arch Pharm Res 2006; 29: 503-7.
- Burnett BP, et al. A medicinal extract of Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu
acts as a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase to reduce inflammation.
J Med Food 2007; 10: 442-51.
- Adcocks C, et al. Catechins from green tea (Camellia sinensis) inhibit bovine and
human cartilage proteoglycan and type II collagen degradation in vitro. J Nutr 2002;
132: 241-6.
- Hsieh CJ, et al. Baicalein inhibits IL-1- and TNF- -induced inflammatory cytokine
production from human mast cells via regulation of the NF- B pathway. Clin Mol Allergy
2007; 5:5.
- Levy R, et al. Safety and efficacy of flavocoxide compared with naproxen in subjects
with osteoarthritis of the knee: a pilot study. Osteoarthr Cartil 2008; 15(suppl
B): B91.
- Sampalis JS, et al. Evaluation and comparison of the safety and efficacy of UP446
and celecoxib for the management of pain in patients with osteoarthritis. Data on
file, Unigen Pharmaceuticals.
Further references
- "Scutellaria
baicalensis information from NPGS/GRIN". USDA. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- Hui KM, Huen MS, Wang HY, et al (November 2002). "Anxiolytic effect of wogonin, a benzodiazepine receptor ligand isolated
from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi". Biochem. Pharmacol. 64 (9): 1415–24.
PMID 12392823.
- http://www.ayushveda.com/herbs/acacia-catechu.htm