Italian Researchers Discover That a Combo of 7 Phytochemicals Can Help Ease Chronic Pain Safely
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 07, 2025 5 hours, 9 minutes ago
Medical News: Plant Based Remedies Show Hope for Pain Relief
A team of researchers from “Renato Dulbecco” University Hospital and University Magna Graecia in Italy, along with the Križevci University of Applied Sciences in Croatia, are exploring how plant-derived nutraceuticals could offer safer, effective ways to ease different types of chronic pain. Chronic pain affects about 20 percent of people in Western countries and is typically treated with drugs like opioids and NSAIDs, which can lead to serious side effects.
A new combination of plant-based compounds shows promise in easing various types of chronic pain with minimal side effects
This
Medical News report highlights a new review examining the potential of a special mix of seven natural ingredients—lycopene, sulforaphane, silymarin, reduced glutathione, escin, tryptophan, and green tea extract—as an add-on treatment for pain. These compounds, all found in plants or food sources, may work together to help reduce pain by lowering inflammation, blocking harmful oxidative stress, and even supporting mood and sleep.
A Closer Look at Each Ingredient
Lycopene, the red pigment found in tomatoes and watermelons, was shown in animal studies to reduce pain by calming nerve inflammation and protecting brain cells.
Silymarin, derived from milk thistle, has anti-inflammatory and liver-protecting effects. It helped people with rheumatoid arthritis experience less pain when used with standard treatments.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant the body naturally makes, and it helps clear out harmful molecules linked to pain and swelling. Although human trials are limited, glutathione’s strong antioxidant ability suggests it might benefit those with oxidative-stress-related pain.
Escin, taken from horse chestnut, is commonly used for swelling and bruising. In clinical studies, it reduced pain in people with sports injuries and neck or shoulder pain. It also showed benefits in nerve pain in lab animals.
Tryptophan, an amino acid that helps make serotonin, may improve sleep and mood. Some studies show it reduces the impact of fibromyalgia-related pain, especially when combined with other nutrients.
Green tea extract, especially its key component EGCG, was shown in trials to relieve joint pain, likely due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It also improved symptoms in people with diabetic nerve pain.
Finally, sulforaphane, a compound found in broccoli, may reduce pain by increasing natural anti-inflammatory proteins and supporting opioid receptors, which help the body manage pain.
Combining Forces for Better Results
The researchers believe that combining all seven ingredients into one supplement could offer a wide-reaching approach to pain relief. Since these compounds work in different ways—some targeting inflammation, others helping nerves or moo
d—they could work better together than alone. The review suggests this combination may be especially useful for people who take multiple medications, since some ingredients also protect the liver.
More Studies Are Needed
Although the early evidence is promising, most studies so far have been on animals or small human groups. Larger clinical trials are needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of this combined supplement. If proven successful, it could provide a much-needed option for people dealing with chronic pain, without the heavy side effects of standard pain drugs.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nutraceuticals.
https://www.mdpi.com/1661-3821/5/4/38
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
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