Osteobolin-C (240 caps/600 mg)

Cissus quadrangularis is a unique, versatile herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Native to the warmer climates of Ceylon and India, it is documented in Ayurvedic texts as a powerful analgesic (1) that has the ability to inhibit stress-induced glucocorticoid activity (4), as well as the ability to accelerate healing in bone fractures (2). Cissus Quadrangularis has also been shown to combat bacterial infections, while at the same time reducing the severity of ulcers (1). Several unpublished case studies and large amounts of empirical data also suggest that taking cissus can mitigate tendon, ligament, joint and cartilage damage, acting as an analgesic while at the same time inhibiting inflammation-related damage (Applied Nutriceuticals Empirical Research).

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an important compound in immune function and tissue repair. It is required for the synthesis of important neurotransmitters, amino acids, and the synthesis of connective tissues (8). Vitamin C also has strong antioxidant properties, enhances iron absorption, and is needed for the formation of cholesterol-based hormones (8).

Mechanism of Mechanical Remodeling
In order to understand the true utility of Osteobolin-C as a joint, cartilage, and bone-enhancing compound, the connective tissue remodeling process (and how Osteobolin-C applies to it) must be discussed. Connective tissue is found throughout the body, and consists of 4 classes: connective tissue proper (fibrous tissue of ligaments), cartilage, bone tissue, and blood. All connective tissues have three main common elements: ground substance, fibers (collagen, elastic, and reticular), and cells (fibroblasts, chondroblasts, osteoblasts) (11). Subsequently, fibroblasts are associated with connective tissue proper, chondroblasts with cartilage, and osteoblasts with bone. The aforementioned “blast” cells synthesize the connective tissue matrix in mature mode, and the mature cells maintain the health of the matrix (11).

In the event of a joint, cartilage, or tendon injury where the connective tissue matrix becomes damaged, several compounds found in Osteobolin-C allow for the rapid mobilization of fibroblasts, chondroblasts, and osteoblasts to the injured area, along with increased retention of calcium, phosphorous, collagen, and mucopolysaccharides (2). With nutrients now flowing to the injured area, the increased calcium retention facilitates greater calcium uptake into connective tissue, giving it the remodeling materials (building blocks if you will) needed to assemble and heal an injury in a more timely fashion (3). Osteobolin-C also attenuates neutrophil infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and IL-8) which are commonplace in joint, bone, and tendon injuries (11). Cytokines are protein-signaling compounds used for intercell communication (in this case signaling the cell to begin the inflammatory process) and neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell (in this case for the removal of bacteria and other material from an injured area). Both agents promote inflammation to the injured area, causing small blood vessels in the injured area to dilate. This process is called hyperemia, and it contributes to the physiologic responses seen in this type of injury: pain, heat, and swelling in the afflicted area. Also during this process, the enzyme myeloperoxidase is released in the injured area whichin turn produces hypochlorous acid (HOCl). HOCl is cytotoxic (toxic to cells), so myeloperoxidase can be considered a double-edged sword, in that while it kills bacteria and pathogens associated with the inflammatory process, it also kills healthy cells which are necessary for healing.

Osteobolin-C limits the inflammatory process and by minimizing myeloperoxidase activity in the damaged bone or connective tissue. Osteobolin-C through the process described above can attenuate pain and swelling associated with bone, tendon, and ligament damage, which allows for faster healing and a quicker time to recovery. Osteobolin-C can speed recovery from injuries that occur during training and every day life, plus it can it help reduce pain/discomfort from old injuries. Both anecdotal and scientific evidence exists proving that Osteobolin-C can alleviate pain, and in many cases has shown the ability to promote healing even in old injuries.

The Vitamin C contained in Osteobolin-C is important because it converts proline to hydroxyproline, the main substance needed for the formation of collagen, which is a very important structural element in tissue remodeling (8,11). Scientific research has indicated that the use of Osteobolin-C can greatly speed up healing in the bone fracture process, as some studies have suggested up to a 30% increase in bone mineralization over a period of six weeks, resulting in drastically (up to 50%) reduced healing times in test subjects (2, 5). In some studies, cissus quadrangularis (the main ingredient in Osteobolin-C) has been shown to reduce healing time of bone fractures up to 53% (5).

Due to it’s universally beneficial effects, Osteobolin-C has the ability to address the needs of the all individuals, from those with low-to-average activity levels to the competitive athlete. Although a great deal of research exists on the fracture healing qualities of Osteobolin-C, the effect of Osteobolin-C on the joints and connective tissue has been under-researched. However, a large amount of anecdotal data on athletes (track, weight lifting, and football) has been collected, with a growing assortment of anecdotal and empirical evidence that demonstrates the ability of Osteobolin-C to speed recovery, ease pain, reduce inflammation, and subsequently reduce damage from hard training (9,10). There is strong scientific evidence that Osteobolin-C’s ability to mobilize fibroblasts and chondroblasts to an injured area indicates that Osteobolin-C can also accelerate the process of regeneration in these tissues and aid in healing old injuries since these same compounds are precursors to cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, (9,10). One case study involving a 42 year-old bodybuilder with a torn distal bicep tendon reported a reduction in healing time of about 40 % (9,10).

There are still many other extraordinary benefits to taking this amazing product. Osteobolin-C contains several important keto-steroids that, when ingested, exert various pro-anabolic actions. Tetracyclic triterpenoids (steroidal saponins) are probably the most important of these keto-steroids, as they exert a marked anti-catabolic effect, and are responsible for the vast majority of Osteobolin-C-related anti-glucocorticoid actions (1,2,3,4,5). The triterpenoids compete with cortisol for receptor sites, and have been shown to minimize the anti-anabolic actions of cortisol (5). Vitamin C is also important in this process, because it also competes for glucocorticoid sites, thus further reducing the amount of cortisol that can bind to any given receptor (6,7,8). Because Osteobolin-C is so versatile, dosages vary greatly, depending on the desired effect from the compound, and the anabolic dosage is higher than the therapeutic dosage.

In conclusion, Osteobolin-C can be considered a highly effective means of preventative and retroactive treatment of training stress and injuries, through both analgesic and connective-tissue strengthening processes.

* Singh SP, Mishra N (1984) An experimental study of analgesic activity of Cissus quadrangularis. Ind. J Pharmac. 162.
* Udupa KN, Guru P (1964) Further studies on the effect of Cissus quadrangularis in accelerating fracture healing. Ind. Jour. Med. Res. 52(1).
* Udupa KN, Guru P (1964) Biomechanical and calcium studies on the effect of Cissus quadrangularis in fracture repair. . Ind. Jour. Med. Res. 52(5).
* Udupa KN, Guru P (1963) Effect of Cissus quadrangularis The healing of cortisone treated fracture. Ind. Jour. Med. Res. 51(4).
* Udupa KN (1962) Cissus quadrangularis in healing of fractures A clinical study J. Indian Medical Association. 38(11).
* Chopra SS, Patel MR, Gupta LP, Datta IC (1975) Studies on Cissus q in Experimental Fracture Repair: Effect on Chemical parameters in the blood. Ind. Jour. Med. Res. 63(6).
* The Healing Factor: Vitamin C Against Disease (1996) Irwin Stone.
* Vit. C Requirments: Optimal Health Benefits v. Overdose (http://acu-cell.com/vitc.html) A moderately high does advocacy supporting site.
* Unpublished Research- Applied Nutriceuticals Case Study: Healing of severely torn distal bicep tendon on 42 year-old weight lifter (2006).
* Marieb, E. Human Anatomy and Physiology, 6th Edition. (2004). Pearson Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco.
* Devi, C, Shyamala, JM (2005) Attenuation of neutrophil infilatration and proinflammatory cytokines by Cissus Quadrangularis (CQE): a possible prevention against gastric ulcerogenesis. J Herb Pharmacother. 5(3): 33-42.