Herb Consults

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Science

On September 30, 2004, the pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc. announced a voluntary worldwide withdrawal of VIOXX® (rofecoxib), its arthritis and acute pain COX-2 inhibitor medication. The company’s decision, was based on data from a new, three-year prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, which showed that after 18 months of use, VIOXX® increased relative risk for confirmed cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke. Almost immediately commentary began about the potential for natural COX-2 inhibitors to fill the VIOXX® void.

It is the position of this author that natural COX-2 inhibitors may very well provide a viable alternative to VIOXX®. To understand why this might be so, let’s first discuss the COX-2 enzyme.

COX-2

There are two cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes at work in our body, COX-1 and COX-2. The COX1 enzyme is expressed in most tissues, and is necessary for a variety of important internal functions. The COX-2 enzyme is also necessary for inflammation, a normal, healthy attempt by the body to heal itself. However, when inflammation gets out of control (such as in the case of arthritis, or other chronic inflammatory disorders) ongoing pain and discomfort is the result. That’s where botanical COX-2 inhibitors can help. Botanical COX-2 inhibitors block the action of the COX-2 enzyme, which helps reduce inflammation and pain.  Read more... (1471 words, estimated 5:53 mins reading time)