Clinical and immunomodulatory effect of Fun-boi, an herbal medicine, in rheumatoid arthritis

rheumatic herb, have been used safely over millennia. To begin to study the efficacy of Fun-boi on the disease activity and the peripheral lymphocyte subsets,we performed a 12-week, open-label trial of Fun-boi extract (a deco ction of Fun-boi 10 g/day) in 29 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). M ost clinical and immunological variables: swollen joint count, physician's and patient's assessment, pain score and IgM rheumatoid factor, showed stat istically significant improvement. Seven(24%) of the enrolled patients met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for a 20 percent improv ement in measures of disease activity (ACR20) and 3 (10%) met those for ACR 50. The CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes were increased significantly. Accordingly, the CD4/CD8 ratio was decreased; however, these changes did not show any clear correlation with clinical. response. Two patients (7%) experienced some mi nor transient adverse events. In conclusion, Fun-boi is safe and showed beneficial effect in some patient s for the treatment of the relatively mild RA seen in, the patients studied . Further controlled studies are indicated. Clinicians should keep an open mind about possible benefits of these still incompletely studied herbal age nts.