Malaysian Researchers Find That Phytochemicals from Acmella Plants Can Help with Muscle and Joint Disorders
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 07, 2025 4 hours, 55 minutes ago
Thailand Medical News: Researchers from Malaysia’s leading universities have uncovered promising evidence that plants from the Acmella genus—commonly used in traditional remedies—could become effective natural treatments for musculoskeletal disorders like arthritis, osteoporosis, and muscle injuries.
Malaysian Researchers Find That Phytochemicals from Acmella Plants Can Help with Muscle and Joint
Disorders
Scientists from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, and Universiti Sains Malaysia conducted a comprehensive review of existing clinical and laboratory studies, focusing on the healing power of plants such as Spilanthes acmella, Blainvillea acmella, Acmella oleracea, and Acmella uliginosa. These tropical flowering plants contain unique bioactive compounds like spilanthol that show strong anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and bone-strengthening properties. The study review covered in this
Thailand Medical News report, delved into 11 credible studies and confirmed that these plants could play an important role in managing various muscle and joint disorders.
Relief for Osteoarthritis and Inflammation
Acmella oleracea and Acmella uliginosa were especially effective in treating osteoarthritis. Multiple animal studies showed that plant extracts reduced joint swelling, pain, and inflammatory markers like interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). In one notable human study, patients with knee osteoarthritis who took tablets containing Acmella oleracea and ginger saw reduced joint pain, improved mobility scores, and better overall quality of life.
Researchers also noted that Acmella-based topical creams helped accelerate tendon healing in injured rats. In another experiment, plant extracts delivered via injection significantly reduced joint inflammation.
Strengthening Bones and Muscles Naturally
Studies also found strong evidence that Acmella plants support bone growth. Laboratory research using bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) confirmed that extracts from Spilanthes acmella and Blainvillea acmella boosted collagen production, calcium deposition, and enzyme activity essential for bone formation. In an animal study involving steroid-induced osteoporosis, combining Spilanthes acmella extract with physical exercise improved testosterone levels and increased bone cell numbers in mice.
Meanwhile, a human study involving 240 men found that taking a commercial extract of Spilanthes acmella led to a measurable increase in upper-arm muscle mass within just two months, although no gains were noted in other muscle groups like the chest or thigh.
A Promising Future for Natural Joint Therapies
The researchers caution that while early results are promising, more advanced studies are needed, especially to determine safe and effective dosages and to isolate the most beneficial active compounds. Still, the evidence clearly supports the idea that
Acmella genus plants may offer safer, plant-based alternatives to conventional drugs for managing joint pain, inflammation, and bone loss.
These findings could pave the way for new herbal treatments that are not only effective but also more accessible and affordable for people in developing regions.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/13/6493
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