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Limited evidenceJoints & skin

Solomon's Seal

A traditional East Asian and North American rhizome used for tendons and joints. Research is limited to laboratory and animal work on its polysaccharides; no human trials support the joint claims.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

  • Joint and cartilage protection Limited evidence

    Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides reduced cartilage inflammation in cell and rodent models of osteoarthritis, acting on autophagy and TLR2/NF-κB signalling. No randomized trial has tested Solomon's seal in people with joint or tendon problems.

  • General tonic and antioxidant effects Limited evidence

    A comprehensive review of Polygonatum odoratum polysaccharides catalogues antioxidant, immunomodulatory and glucose-lowering activity, but the underlying studies are almost entirely in vitro or in animals.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo studied human dose. Traditional preparations use roughly 9–15 g of dried rhizome as a decoction; capsule products typically supply 400–1,000 mg of powder or extract per day as a label dose only.
SafetyLittle formal safety data. Raw rhizome and the berries of related species can cause gastrointestinal upset. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and be cautious if taking glucose-lowering drugs given the reported hypoglycaemic activity in animals.

Scientific references

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