Kathrine Frich
Traditional medicine usually offers cures passed down through belief rather than proof.
Much of it has failed scientific scrutiny, dismissed as ineffective or unsafe once tested in laboratories.
Occasionally, however, modern research finds evidence that a long-used remedy may hold genuine therapeutic value.
Folk use examined
A Brazilian coastal plant known as Joseph’s Coat has shown significant anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis effects in laboratory studies, according to research backed by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP).
The plant, scientifically named Alternanthera littoralis, has been used for generations in Brazilian folk medicine to treat inflammation, infections and parasitic diseases. Until now, little scientific work had confirmed whether those traditional claims were valid or safe.
The new study was conducted by researchers from the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), and São Paulo State University (UNESP).
Testing the plant
The research, published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, began with a chemical analysis of an ethanolic extract made from the plant’s aerial parts. The aim was to identify bioactive compounds potentially responsible for medicinal effects.
Marcos Salvador, a pharmacist at UNICAMP’s Institute of Biology, led the compound analysis. The extract was then tested in experimental models of arthritis to evaluate its biological impact.
Toxicological assessments were also carried out to determine safety. “Finally, we performed the toxicological analyses under my coordination,” said Arielle Cristina Arena, an associate professor at UNESP’s Institute of Biosciences.
Reduced inflammation
Laboratory results showed that the extract significantly reduced inflammation and joint damage. “In the experimental models, we observed reduced edema, improved joint parameters, and modulation of inflammatory mediators, suggesting antioxidant and tissue-protective actions,” Arena said.
Researchers noted that the effects went beyond swelling reduction, pointing to potential protection of joint tissue often damaged by arthritis.
The findings lend scientific credibility to the plant’s long-standing use in traditional medicine, according to the research team.
Limits remain
Despite the positive results, researchers stressed that the extract is not ready for clinical use.
Further toxicological studies, human trials, standardized extraction methods and regulatory approval are still required.
“This research is part of an ongoing line of investigation… to value Brazilian biodiversity and traditional knowledge, but with a rigorous scientific basis,” Arena said, emphasizing the need for cautious and evidence-based development.
The study was funded by FAPESP under multiple research grants.
Sources: Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Science Daily.
