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Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum)

A southern-African root with some of the better herbal evidence for low-back and osteoarthritic pain.

Reviewed by Bodil Isaksson, Licensed Biomedical Scientist (Sweden)Last reviewed July 2026Supplement guide

SupplementsJoint healthBack pain

Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), named for its hooked fruit, is a traditional African remedy. Its iridoid glycoside harpagoside has anti-inflammatory activity, and standardised extracts have respectable trial evidence for back and joint pain.

Key takeaways

  • The active marker is harpagoside, an iridoid glycoside.
  • A Cochrane review found extracts delivering 50–100 mg harpagoside/day reduced non-specific low-back pain more than placebo.1
  • Also studied in hip and knee osteoarthritis, easing pain and improving function.2
  • Choose a product standardised to harpagoside; avoid with active peptic ulcers.

What it is

Devil’s claw is the dried secondary root tuber of Harpagophytum. Its harpagoside and related iridoids appear to inhibit inflammatory signalling (COX/LOX enzymes, TNF-alpha and nitric oxide), which underlies its use as a herbal analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

The evidence

A Cochrane review of herbal medicine for low-back pain concluded there is moderate evidence that Devil’s claw standardised to 50–100 mg harpagoside/day reduces pain more than placebo short-term; in one trial 60 mg harpagoside was comparable to 12.5 mg rofecoxib.1 In osteoarthritis, extracts such as Doloteffin (~60 mg harpagoside/day) matched the prescription drug diacerein for hip/knee OA with fewer side effects, and a Cochrane herbal-OA review rates the evidence as promising but limited.2

Dose & how to use

Aim for an extract standardised to 50–100 mg harpagoside/day (often about 2,400 mg of extract daily, in divided doses). Allow 4–8 weeks. Aqueous/ethanolic extracts standardised to harpagoside are preferable to unstandardised powders.

Safety & who benefits

Usually well tolerated; mild digestive upset is the commonest complaint. Because it may increase stomach acid, avoid with active peptic ulcer and use caution with reflux. It may interact with anticoagulants and drugs cleared by the liver, and it can affect heart rhythm and blood sugar — caution with those medications. Avoid in pregnancy. Best for chronic low-back pain and hip/knee osteoarthritis.

Bottom line: a well-evidenced herbal analgesic — standardised to 50–100 mg harpagoside/day for low-back or osteoarthritic pain; skip it with ulcers or on blood thinners.

References

Adult research summary for education, not a prescription. These are food supplements, not treatments for disease.

  1. Oltean H, Robbins C, van Tulder MW, Berman BM, Bombardier C, Gagnier JJ. Herbal medicine for low-back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;(12):CD004504. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Cameron M, Chrubasik S. Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;2014(5):CD002947. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This article summarises nutrition science for education. It is not a substitute for individual medical advice; consult a professional before starting a supplement, in pregnancy, or alongside medication.