tuneTypical Dose
No single evidence-based standalone dose applies across indications
Botanical
Cissus Quadrangularis
Cissus quadrangularis
Evidence TierCWADA NOT PROHIBITED
watchEffect Window
Bone and weight-related trials are typically several weeks long.
check_circleCompliance
WADA NOT PROHIBITED
Overview
Clinical Summary
Cissus quadrangularis has mixed human evidence, with the most credible support for fracture pain or symptom support, while weight-loss claims often rely on combination products.
Cissus is marketed for joints, fractures, weight loss, and body recomposition. The best summary of the clinical literature found some benefit for bone-fracture pain and no benefit for hemorrhoids, while the weight-loss data mostly come from combination products rather than cissus alone. That makes it a mixed supplement with narrower value than its marketing suggests.
Cissus is discussed for anti-inflammatory and bone-healing effects, but the clinical literature is heterogeneous and often mixed with multi-ingredient formulations.
Outcomes
What This Is Expected To Influence
Primary Outcomes
- Possible benefit for bone-fracture pain
Secondary Outcomes
- Weight-loss evidence mostly relies on combination products
Safety
Contraindications and Interactions
Contraindications
No entries provided
Side effects
- Mild GI upset
Interactions
No entries provided
Avoid if
- You are using multi-ingredient weight-loss results to infer what cissus alone does
Evidence
Study-level References
cis-SRC-001Systematic review and meta-analysis
Sourceopen_in_newSawangjit R, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Cissus quadrangularis L. in Clinical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Phytother Res. 2017. doi:10.1002/ptr.5783. PMID:28165166.
Population: Patients from randomized trials of Cissus quadrangularis across multiple conditions.
Dose protocol: Trial specific across conditions
Key findings: Benefit for bone-fracture pain, not for hemorrhoids, mixed evidence elsewhere.
Notes: Best condition-wide summary.
Paper content
This is the best high-level Cissus summary. It supports some benefit for bone-related symptoms but makes clear that many positive weight-loss data come from combination products rather than Cissus alone.
cis-SRC-002Randomized controlled trial
Sourceopen_in_newOben J, et al. The use of a Cissus quadrangularis formulation in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome. Lipids Health Dis. 2006. doi:10.1186/1476-511X-5-24. PMID:16948861.
Population: Overweight and obese adults aged 19 to 50 years in a weight-management trial.
Dose protocol: Proprietary formulation twice daily for 8 weeks
Key findings: Weight and metabolic improvements in overweight participants.
Notes: Combination-product evidence only.
Paper content
This older trial is one reason cissus is still marketed for weight loss, but it used a proprietary formulation rather than isolated Cissus quadrangularis, so it cannot cleanly establish what standalone cissus does.
cis-pmid-40707943Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Sourceopen_in_newNa Takuathung M, Aisara J, Sawong S, Koonrungsesomboon N. The effects of Cissus quadrangularis on bone-related biomarkers in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2025;25(1):286. doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04995-8. PMID:40707943.
Population: Human participants across 7 included studies with no age, sex, or disease severity restrictions.
Dose protocol: Cissus quadrangularis supplementation across 7 RCTs (354 participants)
Key findings: Significantly increased serum parathyroid hormone (SMD 1.23, P<0.0001). No significant effects on calcium, phosphorus, or alkaline phosphatase. GRADE certainty very low.
Notes: Most comprehensive meta-analysis of CQ bone biomarker effects. Limited evidence quality across included studies.
Paper content
This meta-analysis pooled 7 RCTs (354 participants) and found that Cissus quadrangularis significantly increased serum parathyroid hormone (SMD 1.23, P<0.0001) but did not significantly change calcium, phosphorus, or alkaline phosphatase. GRADE assessment rated evidence certainty as very low across all parameters. The elevated PTH finding is biologically interesting but its clinical significance for bone health is uncertain. The review highlights the limited and heterogeneous evidence base for Cissus quadrangularis bone-health claims.
cis-pmid-35523116Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Sourceopen_in_newBenjawan et al. The effect of Cissus quadrangularis L. on delaying bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2022;101:154115. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154115. PMID:35523116.
Population: Postmenopausal women aged over 40 years with osteopenia (1 to 10 years since last menstruation).
Dose protocol: CQ 1.2 g/day or 1.6 g/day versus placebo for 24 weeks in postmenopausal women with osteopenia
Key findings: No BMD change at any site. Bone turnover marker P1NP significantly reduced (up to -9.95% at week 24 in 1.6 g group, P<0.01).
Notes: Well-designed 3-arm RCT (n=134). Strongest standalone evidence for CQ in a bone-health population.
Paper content
This three-arm RCT tested Cissus quadrangularis at 1.2 g and 1.6 g daily versus placebo for 24 weeks in 134 postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Neither dose significantly changed bone mineral density. However, both CQ groups showed significantly reduced bone turnover markers (P1NP), with the 1.6 g group showing a reduction of up to 9.95% by week 24 (P<0.01). The finding suggests CQ may slow bone remodeling without producing measurable density changes in a 24-week timeframe. The study is well-designed and provides the strongest standalone evidence for CQ in a bone-health population.