Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth. for pain treatment.

Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth. was recommended in Thailand National List of Essential Medicines (NLEMs) for musculoskeletal pain treatment as herbal medicine [1] with no summarized of clinical effect and safety. Our study aimed to determine the clinical effects and safety of D. scandens for musculoskeletal pain treatment compared with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). International and Thai databases were searched. Comparative clinical studies investigating D.scandens for pain were included. Outcomes of interest were visual analog of pain scale and adverse event. Mean changes of the outcomes from baseline were compared between D. scandens and NSAIDs by calculating mean difference. From 42 articles identified, 4 studies involving a total of 414 patients were included for efficacy analysis. The effects of D.scandens on reducing pain score were not different from NSAIDs in any time points (3, 7, 14, 28 days and overall) without evident of heterogeneity (I²= 0.0%). When compared the adverse events (AEs), D.scandens showed not different relative risk with NSAIDs. The major adverse event was gastrointestinal symptoms. D. scandens may be considered as an alternative for musculoskeletal pain reduction.

[1] National drug committee. www.nlem.in.th,The national list of essential drug, A.D. 2015 [in Thai]. The royal gazette (132), 2015 Aug 10.