en Clinical Medicine Clinical Medicine مقاله پژوهشی Original Research Article <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Background & Objective:</span></span><b> </b></b><span style="color:black">Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent</span> <span style="color:black">cause of joint pain and limited mobility in older adults. It is a degenerative joint disease with inflammatory features. Current treatments mainly alleviate symptoms but do not halt disease progression. The fruit extract of <i>Elaeagnus angustifolia</i> (EL) contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant phytochemicals, including flavonoids, which may inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. This randomized, double-blind clinical trial evaluated whether a standardized topical EL gel, as an adjunct to diclofenac, could reduce pain and stiffness and improve function in knee osteoarthritis.</span><br> <b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">&nbsp;Materials & Methods:</span></span></span></b> <span style="color:black"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">In this randomized clinical trial, 112 patients aged 40 to 75 years with grade II&ndash;III osteoarthritis received diclofenac (25 mg, twice daily) for 8 weeks. The intervention group additionally applied EL fruit gel, while the control group used a placebo gel. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).</span></span><br> <b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Results: </span></span></span>&nbsp;</b><span style="color:black"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">The mean differences in osteoarthritis symptoms and daily activity in the intervention group after 8 weeks showed significant improvements (P < 0.001) compared to baseline, with changes of 1.19 &plusmn; 0.17 and 2.50 &plusmn; 2.16, respectively. Additionally, significant reductions in stiffness (P = 0.03) and pain symptoms (P = 0.03) were observed in the intervention group compared to the placebo group, with changes of -0.69 &plusmn; 0.32 and -2.71 &plusmn; 1.26, respectively.</span></span><br> <b><span style="background:#2d7f8f"><span style="color:white">Conclusion: </span></span>&nbsp;</b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black">Topical EL fruit extract gel significantly reduced pain and stiffness compared to placebo. Its favorable safety profile supports the need for further large-scale trials to confirm efficacy and evaluate long-term safety.</span></span></span></span></p> Osteoarthritis, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Knee Joint, Persian Medicine, Herbal Medicine 347 357 http://journal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-7256-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Hossein Alipour alipour209@gmail.com 5200319475328460087476 5200319475328460087476 No Clinical Research Development Center, Sayad Shirazi Hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Marzieh Qaraaty dr.qaraati@goums.ac.ir 5200319475328460087477 5200319475328460087477 No Clinical Research Development Center, Sayad Shirazi Hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Sima Sedighi dr-sedighi@goums.ac.ir 5200319475328460087478 5200319475328460087478 No Bones Joint and Connective Tissue Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Abdolhalim Rajabi rajabiepid@gmail.com 5200319475328460087479 5200319475328460087479 No Health Management and Social Development Research Center, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Mohammad Kamalinejad mkamalinejad@yahoo.com 5200319475328460087480 5200319475328460087480 Yes School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran