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Cqu4.0

Cissus Quadrangularis Research

Mostly mechanism / observationalModerate safety

4 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

Most Cissus Quadrangularis studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.

Most evidence is from medium-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2017–2023 with a typical study size of 1,108 participants.

Based on 4 studies · 1 meta-analysis · 1 RCT · 1,242 total participants

Confidence

Moderate

By outcome

Bone healthMay support fracture healing and slow bone-turnover markers; meta-analysis showed benefit for fractures but a controlled trial found no change in bone mineral density · 6-24 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Weight managementProprietary Cissus combination products reduced body weight and improved lipids/glucose vs placebo in trials, but single-ingredient data are weaker · 6-8 weeks
Too few graded studies1 study
Safety profile
Too few graded studies1 study

Active research area

2 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2017

20172023

1Meta-Analysisn=1,108 · large study2017

Cissus had benefit for bone fractures, and combination products improved body weight, LDL, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and fasting blood sugar versus placebo — but high-quality studies remain needed.

Sawangjit R, Puttarak P, Saokaew S, Chaiyakunapruk N · Phytother Res (2017)

Pooled 9 RCTs with 1,108 patients across conditions
Significant benefit for bone pain/fractures (GRADE quality rated low for fractures)
Combination products reduced body weight by ~5.19 kg and improved lipids and fasting glucose vs placebo

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2RCTn=134 · medium study2022

This is the first clinical report showing a promising effect on delaying bone loss via slower bone remodeling, although no change in bone mineral density was observed.

Benjawan S, Nimitphong H, Tragulpiankit P, Musigavong O, Prathanturarug S, Pathomwichaiwat T · Phytomedicine (2022)

134 postmenopausal women with osteopenia randomized to Cissus 1.2 g/day, 1.6 g/day, or placebo for 24 weeks
Bone-turnover markers (P1NP) significantly reduced vs placebo, indicating slowed bone remodeling
No significant change in bone mineral density at any site after 24 weeks

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3Animal2019

Cissus protected the microarchitecture of the long bones from ovariectomy-induced bone loss, likely via the BMP and Wnt signaling pathways.

Guerra JM, Hanes MA, Rasa C, Loganathan N, Innis-Whitehouse W, Gutierrez E, Nair S, Banu J · J Bone Miner Metab (2019)

Ovariectomized rats fed Cissus for 3 months retained trabecular bone in femur and tibia
Increased bone-formation marker P1NP and osteocalcin; decreased resorption markers (TRAP5b, CTX)
Modulated BMP and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and reduced inflammation

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4Preclinical2023

Cissus suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and preserved bone microarchitecture by shifting the host osteoimmune balance toward anti-osteoclastogenic immune cells.

Azam Z, Sapra L, Baghel K, Sinha N, Gupta RK, Soni V, Saini C, Mishra PK, Srivastava RK · Cells (2023)

Dose-dependently suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast formation in mouse bone marrow cells (ex vivo)
In ovariectomized mice, improved bone microarchitecture and raised anti-osteoclastogenic immune cells (Tregs, Bregs, Th1/Th2)
Lowered osteoclastogenic cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17) and raised anti-osteoclastogenic ones (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10)

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View in Research Library

Cissus Quadrangularis Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

Efficacy and Safety of Cissus quadrangularis L. in Clinical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The effect of Cissus quadrangularis L. on delaying bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Modulation of bone turnover by Cissus quadrangularis after ovariectomy in rats.

Cissus quadrangularis (Hadjod) Inhibits RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis and Augments Bone Health in an Estrogen-Deficient Preclinical Model of Osteoporosis.