The sector of nutritional supplements offers different alternatives to the conventional medical therapy based on anti-inflammatory drugs or chondroprotective substances.

Herbal preparations from ginger root, devil’s claw root or Boswellia serrata resin, among others, are used as individual anti-inflammatory actives.

Collagen stimulating substances as glucosamin and chondroitin are also used frequently.

Among these alternatives are rose hip (Rosa canina L.) and collagen hydrolysate, which are used together in Jointsol® due to their individual as well as their synergistic activity profile.

Anti-inflammatory action of Rose hip

Rose hip is a typical daily food supplement traditionally used for its vitamin C content and other active principles to treat several discomforts: respiratory disorders, infectious diseases, gastrointestinal and urinary system illnesses and prophylaxis of vitamin C deficiencies. Rose hips have been eaten as jam or drunken as fruit tea for centuries. Therefore the separated Rose hip peels have always been regarded as everyday food.

In the last ten years it was scientifically documented, that the daily use of food containing rose hip fruits was positive to treat inflammatory joint diseases, in particular osteoarthritis. Several human studies with rose hip powder showed pain reducing properties and could also reduce symptoms such stiffness or even the need for additional medication.
However, the daily amount of 5 g over a period of 12 weeks showed moderate beneficial effects and low compliance demonstrating what the limits of a treatment with rose hip powder are.

Rose hip fruit skin powder contains remarkable active principles able to inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators and oxidative substances as well as enzymes responsible for the degradation of the organic matrix of joints and bones. A marked action on the inhibition of different cytokines has been observed as the interleukin 1β (IL-1β), the interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the alpha tumoral necrosis factor (TNF- α).

However herbal drug powders are usually not as stable and uniform as extracts. Using purification techniques and water as extraction solvent Finzelberg get a new extract, which compared with the rose hip drug powder is 7 fold stronger in their anti-inflammatory activity.

Regenerative action of collagen hydrolysate

Collagen hydrolysate is of interest as a therapeutic agent of potential utility in the treatment of degenerative MSC. Its high level of safety makes it attractive as an agent for long-term use in chronic disorders.

Several clinical trials which have been carried out with different sources and different types of collagen hydrolysates show the stimulating action of the cartilage and bone cell activity whose results are evident a 12 weeks after its use.

Different studies show that collagen hydrolysate has a beneficial effect on cartilage regeneration on damaged joints due to the stimulation of collagen Type II and proteoglycans biosynthesis from chondrocytes.