European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS

*Anil Batta

ABSTRACT

Osteoarthritis is a slow destructive process of the joint affecting millions of people all over the world. There is degeneration of joint. The secondary inflammation due to progressive articular destruction appears to be localized to the particular joint being affected. The secondary inflammation due to progressive articular destruction appears to be localized to the particular joint being affected. COX-2 specific NSAID's are becoming favorite drugs to soothe the effect. As a result of this, use of alternative treatments and complementary medicines are gaining popularity. Glucosamine has been the subject of many trials[3,4] and is used worldwide as an "alternative" treatment for OA. The extent to which it may provide relief to the symptoms is not obvious. Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention tested the efficacy of glucosamine in providing relief is being tried. Gycosaminoglycan is a structural component of cartilage and a popular alternative therapy for OA. Some benefit has been observed in subjects with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis suggesting that the benefits of these nutraceuticals may be limited to this group. Cat's claw extract has recently been combined with a mineral based treatment (Sierrasil®) to provide symptomatic relief for a group of mild to moderate OA sufferers. Later on this benefit was at best temporary for a 1–2 week period only. Later on minerals like magnesium, copper, manganese, selenium and zinc have shown anti-inflammatory effects. Recent evidence has suggested a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of OA whereby an excess of reactive oxygen species arising from an imbalance in the antioxidant status of the joint (such as reduced levels of SOD) may result in cartilage degradation and joint remodeling.[13] Selenium is also an essential co-factor for glutathione peroxidase may have a role in reducing the incidence of osteoarthritic lesion. Positive roles have also been suggested for trace minerals such as boron and manganese in reducing the symptoms. Out of all Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is recommended as a therapeutic intervention in osteoarthritis (OA) management. CS has been studied extensively. The purpose of this review was to gather most of the available information about CS and to discuss its potency in OA management.

Keywords: Cartilage, Chondroitin sulfate, osteoarthritis, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic.