A coastal plant long used in Brazilian traditional medicine has shown anti-inflammatory effects in animal studies, potentially paving the way for new arthritis treatments, according to research from three universities.
Scientists examined an ethanolic extract from the aerial parts of Joseph’s Coat (Alternanthera littoralis), a species native to Brazil’s shoreline. The plant has historically been used to treat conditions such as inflammation, microbial infections, and parasitic diseases, but lacked robust scientific backing until this work.
The study, appearing in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, involved chemical analysis led by Marcos Salvador, a pharmacist at the Institute of Biology at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Testing for anti-inflammatory properties was handled by pharmacologist Cândida Kassuya from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD).
“Finally, we performed the toxicological analyses under my coordination,” said Arielle Cristina Arena, an associate professor in the Department of Structural and Functional Biology at the Institute of Biosciences of São Paulo State University’s (UNESP) Botucatu campus.
In lab models of arthritis, the extract curbed swelling, enhanced joint function, and adjusted inflammatory signals. Joints treated with it showed less degeneration than those without treatment, along with lower oxidative stress, which contributes to tissue harm in chronic conditions.
“In the experimental models, we observed reduced edema, improved joint parameters, and modulation of inflammatory mediators, suggesting antioxidant and tissue-protective actions,” Arena said, per Sci Tech Daily.
Safety assessments found no adverse effects in animals at the applied doses, suggesting a viable profile for further exploration.
Yet researchers stress caveats: The work relied on animal models, and lab successes don’t guarantee human benefits. They also stopped short of pinpointing the exact compounds driving the effects, complicating dose consistency or long-term predictions. Variations in over-the-counter or home-prepared versions could affect potency and risks, unlike the lab-controlled extract used here.
If validated, the plant might offer herbal options to existing arthritis drugs, which can bring unwanted side effects over time. Next phases include isolating key components, human trials, and extended safety checks, as well as regulatory hurdles.
“This research is part of an ongoing line of investigation developed by UFGD, UNESP, and UNICAMP, and our purpose is to value Brazilian biodiversity and traditional knowledge, but with a rigorous scientific basis, promoting the safe and rational use of natural products,” Arena said.