Harpagophyte (or devil's claw): Harpagophytum procumbens, Pedaliacee family. African creeping plant whose secondary roots are used: harvested, cut into slices and left to dry in the sun.
The roots are used in folk medicine as an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic. Hypocholesterolemic properties are also associated with the harpagophyte.
In herbal medicine, the drug is prescribed as an antiarthritic and antirheumatic, and, due to these properties, it can easily be found in ointments for topical use. The harpagophyte is often associated with arnica, a plant rich in terpenoid compounds and flavonoids.
The active principles of the harpagophyte, harpagosides, are also of an iridoidic nature, but must be applied with great care because they have negative interactions with cortisone molecules.
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