NCT00376415

A Safety Study of Lessertia Frutescens in Adults.

A Randomized, Double-blind Placebo-controlled Phase 1 Trial of Lessertia Frutescens in Adults.

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Missouri-Columbia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Lessertia frutescens (L.) Goldblatt \& J.C. Manning (syn. Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R. Br.), infusions and decoctions are widely used in South Africa as indigenous medicines, to combat cancer, infections and symptoms associated with AIDS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of this phytotherapy in healthy adults.

Detailed description

Objectives: Lessertia frutescens (L.) Goldblatt \& J.C. Manning (syn. Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R. Br.), infusions and decoctions are widely used in South Africa as indigenous medicines, to combat cancer, infections and symptoms associated with AIDS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of this phytotherapy in healthy adults. Design: A randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety of Lessertia frutescens in healthy adults. Setting: Karl Bremer Hospital, Bellville, South Africa. Participants: 25 adults, aged 18 to 45 years, who provided informed consent. They had no significant diseases or clinically abnormal laboratory blood profiles during screening. They had no history of allergic conditions and were not on regular medical treatment. Intervention: 12 healthy participants were randomized to a treatment arm where they received 400mg L. frutescens leaf powder capsules twice daily (800mg/day), available as a product called Sutherlandia. 13 healthy participants were randomized to the control arm, where they received an identical placebo capsule. The trial lasted 3 months. Outcome Measures: The primary endpoint was frequency of adverse events and the secondary endpoint, changes in physical, vital, blood and biomarker indices. Results: There were no significant differences in general adverse events, cardiovascular, CNS, GIT, infection, allergy, malaise, most physical, haematological, biochemical or physiological parameters, between the treatment and the placebo groups (P\>0.05). However, subjects consuming L. frutescens mostly reported improved appetite compared to those in the placebo group (P\<0.01). Although the treatment group exhibited a lower respiration rate (P\<0.04), higher platelet count (P\<0.03), MCH (P\<0.01), MCHC (P\<0.02), total protein (P\<0.03) and albumin levels (P\<0.03), than the placebo group, these differences remained within the normal physiological range, and were not clinically relevant. The L. frutescens biomarker, Canavanine, was undetectable in subject plasma. Conclusion: Overall, consumption of 800mg/day L. frutescens leaf powder capsules, was well tolerated by healthy adults.

Conditions

• Drug Safety

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Lessertia Fructescens	Participants received 400mg lessertia fructescens leaf powder capsules twice daily for 3 months.
DRUG	Placebo	Participants received an identical placebo capsule twice daily for 3 months.

Timeline

• Start date: 2004-09-01
• Primary completion: 2005-01-01
• Completion: 2005-01-01
• First posted: 2006-09-14
• Last updated: 2016-09-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: South Africa