Cissus quadrangularis,
does it really help with Faster clinical and radiographic fracture union with less pain and swelling when added to fracture fixation?
research showsCissus quadrangularis is rated C. A 2013 trial randomized 60 patients with mandibular fractures to Cissus or starch placebo under double masking and reported improved clinical and radiographic healing, so the evidence is not merely preclinical and does not belong in D. Quantitative effect reporting was weak, independent replication of the same single-ingredient intervention is limited, and later small or combination-product findings conflict, limiting the verdict to the floor of C at 40 points.
ads claimMarketing converts a traditional reputation as a fracture herb and cellular or animal osteogenic mechanisms directly into faster human fracture union. Human studies actually involve small samples of selected jaw or distal-radius fractures and cannot be generalized across Cissus-only extracts, doses, fracture types, or retail products.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- Cissus quadrangularis is a plant in the grape family, and supplements vary in plant part, extraction method, marker compounds, and actual content, so a retail product cannot be assumed to match a clinical-trial product.
- Human fracture studies used different doses and formulations, and some combined Cissus with Dalbergia sissoo or Boswellia serrata, making a Cissus-only effect difficult to isolate.
- It cannot replace reduction and fixation, infection control, adequate nutrition, smoking cessation, or follow-up imaging, and supplement use must not delay orthopedic or maxillofacial care.
- Short studies generally found it tolerable, but gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and headache can occur, while long-term safety data are limited in pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, and polypharmacy.
What the research actually shows
Singh 2013 randomized 60 patients with mandibular fractures to Cissus capsules or starch placebo under double masking and assessed clinical and radiographic healing plus osteopontin, reporting better healing with Cissus. Effect sizes and between-group quantitative details were limited. The Brahmkshatriya 2015 pilot included only nine patients. In the Gigi 2023 randomized open-label study of 24 patients, radiographic healing did not differ with a Cissus and Dalbergia sissoo combination. The Na Takuathung 2025 meta-analysis rated bone-biomarker evidence as very low certainty, and the positive Mungara 2026 trial was an open-label, company-linked study of a Cissus and Boswellia combination.
Why this is classified as C (40)
A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 60 patients reported improved clinical and radiographic healing, ruling out a preclinical D rating. Quantitative effect reporting was weak, independent replication of the same single-ingredient intervention is limited, radiographic healing was null in a 24-person open-label combination trial, and the 2025 biomarker synthesis had very low certainty. These limits yield C with 40 points. Gastrointestinal effects and product variability are safety issues kept separate from efficacy.
Counterpoint. Anyone choosing to use it should continue standard fracture care and tell the treating clinician the exact product and all ingredients. Less pain does not prove faster union, so scheduled clinical and imaging follow-up remains necessary.
Rejudgment record. Cross-check revision — Applied the floor of C because a 60-person randomized double-blind starch-placebo trial reported improved clinical and radiographic healing, ruling out D, while weak quantitative reporting, substantial surrogate emphasis, limited independent replication, and conflicting later evidence prevent a higher score
Sub-claim grades by effect
This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.
| Effect (sub-claim) | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Acceleration of clinical and radiographic fracture union | C | A 60-person double-blind placebo-controlled trial reported improvement, but weak quantitative effect reporting and limited independent replication keep this at the floor of C. |
| Reduction of fracture pain | C | A direct randomized trial provides a positive clinical signal, but later samples are small and effects are difficult to separate from combination ingredients or natural recovery. |
| Reduction of fracture swelling | C | The 60-person placebo-controlled trial reported clinical improvement, but evidence is limited to selected jaw and wrist studies without adequate independent replication of Cissus alone. |
Cross-check — Codex and Claude
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Na Takuathung M et al. 2025 | Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials | 354 | Academic research; authors declared no competing interests | Parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and secondary clinical outcomes | Only parathyroid hormone increased; other bone markers were not significant, and GRADE certainty was very low for all assessed outcomes. | Current synthesis with very low certainty |
| Gigi PG et al. 2023 | Three-arm randomized open-label controlled trial | 8 | Academic study using a combination tablet | Pain, fracture-site mobility, bite force, serum markers, and radiographic healing | Early pain relief with the Cissus and Dalbergia sissoo combination was nonsignificant, and radiographic healing did not differ significantly among groups. | Small but direct conflicting and null evidence |
| Singh N et al. 2013 | Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial | 60 | No conflict declared; funding source unclear | Clinical and radiographic healing and osteopontin expression | Clinical and radiographic healing was reported as better with Cissus, but effect sizes and between-group quantitative reporting were weak, and osteopontin was a surrogate. | Direct positive placebo-controlled trial limited by quantitative reporting and replication |
| Mungara AVVP et al. 2026 | Multicenter randomized open-label controlled trial | 50 | Included a company medical-affairs author and evaluated a branded combination | Radius Union Scoring System, pain and swelling visual analog scores, and wrist function | Standard therapy plus the Cissus and Boswellia combination improved 60-day RUSS, visual analog, and wrist-function scores, but a Cissus-only effect could not be isolated. | Current direct positive signal limited by open-label combination design |
Receipt — 5 References
All 5 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-07-21).
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-07-21 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Cissus quadrangularis x faster fracture union with reduced pain and swelling — Evidence Grade C·40. 5 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/joint-bone/cissus-quadrangularis-fracture-healing-pain-swelling/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
What this document does and does not do
Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.