Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
Plant-Derived Medicines for Sciatica: A Comprehensive Review Publisher



Lavari N1, 2 ; Esmaealzadeh N3, 4 ; Rahimi R3 ; Abbassian A1
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Traditional Persian Medicine and Complementary Medicine (PerCoMed) Student Association, Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Traditional and Integrative Medicine Published:2024


Abstract

Sciatica commonly refers to radicular leg pain which is mainly caused by lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and affects the daily functional ability of many patients in the world. However, according to the side effects and short-term benefits of its treatments, new therapeutic agents such as natural products are needed. The aim of this study was to comprehensively review the effectiveness of plant-derived products for the treatment of sciatica. Electronic databases, including Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched from inception to 17 August 2023 for this comprehensive review. English language papers reporting preclinical and clinical evaluations of the effectiveness of herbal products, including medicinal plants, multi-component herbal preparations, and phytochemicals on sciatica, radicular pain, or LDH, were included. Studies on neuropathic pain due to reasons other than sciatica, radicular pain, or LDH were excluded. From a total of 5666 papers identified in the primary search, 16 (including 4 clinical and 12 preclinical studies) were finally included. Most of the plant-derived treatments mentioned in this review belonged to the polyphenol family or contained high concentrations of various polyphenols. From the results obtained, polyphenols relieved sciatica by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, mainly through the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways. In conclusion, plant-derived medicines have the potential to improve the quality of life and functional ability of sciatica patients by relieving symptoms. However, further preclinical and clinical studies are suggested to prove the safety and efficacy of such herbal medicines for sciatica. © 2024 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.
Related Docs
1. The Effect of a Topical Formulation From Lawsonia Inermis L. (Henna) on Pain Intensity in Patients With Chronic Sciatica: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial, Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2023)
2. Natural Products in the Clinical Management of Metabolic Syndrome, Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology (2025)
3. Resveratrol Supplementation and Flow-Mediated Dilation: A Systematic Review, Nutrition and Food Science (2019)
4. Targeting Dyslipidemia by Herbal Medicines: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses, Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2021)
5. Plant-Derived Natural Medicines for the Management of Osteoporosis: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Trials, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (2024)
6. Effects of Herbal Medicines on the Prevention and Treatment of Contact Dermatitis: A Systematic Review, Iranian Journal of Public Health (2022)
7. Plant-Derived Medicines for Neuropathies: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Evidence, Reviews in the Neurosciences (2019)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Roja Rahimi (4)
Ozra Tabatabaei-Malazy (2)