Cissus quadrangularis
Summary
Cissus quadrangularis is a vine sold for weight loss and joints. Several trials from one Cameroon research group found weight and body-fat loss with 300 mg/day of an extract (grade C), but independent replication is missing. In postmenopausal women with low bone density, 1.2–1.6 g/day for 24 weeks did not change bone density versus placebo. No serious side effects were reported in trials.
Key facts
- Body weight and fat (C, mostly one research group); bone density (no effect, C); joint pain (D, uncontrolled)[4][5][3][8]
- No serious adverse effects across nine randomized trials with 1,108 people[1]
- Headache, gas, dry mouth, diarrhea and insomnia were the most common events in one multi-ingredient trial[7]
- Most weight trials come from Julius Oben's group in Cameroon; Gateway Health Alliances supplied extracts for one trial, and the 2025 trial was funded by the J&A Oben Foundation[6][4]
- 9 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 10, 2026
How it works
ProposedLaboratory studies suggest Cissus extracts slow fat-digesting and starch-digesting enzymes and affect bone-cell activity; a 2025 trial reported higher GLP-1 and lower DPP-4 activity. How these findings translate to people is not established.[11][4][3]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemorrhoids | Grade C | No effect | Meta-analysis of 9 trials · n = 1,108 · 2017 | 1 row |
| Weight | Grade C | Improved | RCT · n = 248 · 2025 | 4 rows |
| Bone | Grade C | No effect | RCT · n = 134 · 2022 | 2 rows |
| Fracture repair | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 50 · 2026 | 1 row |
| Joint pain | Grade D | Improved | Open-label · n = 29 · 2013 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemorrhoid symptoms | No effect | Grade C | Meta-analysis · n = 1,108 · 2017 Nine randomized trials across several conditions Form: Cissus alone or in combination products · Dose: Varied across trials · Duration: Varied across trials Cissus did not differ from comparators for hemorrhoid symptoms; it reduced bone pain in fracture trials, and only combination products were pooled for weight loss (about 5.2 kg more than placebo). | 28165166 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Body weight and body fat | Improved | Grade C | RCT · n = 248 · 2025 Adults with overweight or obesity (BMI 25–34.9) Form: Cissus quadrangularis extract · Dose: 300 mg once daily · Duration: 16 weeks Compared with placebo, the Cissus group lost 5.8% of body weight and 10.9% of body fat, with higher GLP-1 and lower DPP-4 activity; the authors describe the responses as comparable to semaglutide. | 41597327 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| Bone mineral density | No effect | Grade C | RCT · n = 134 · 2022 Postmenopausal women with osteopenia Form: Cissus quadrangularis capsules · Dose: 1.2 g or 1.6 g per day · Duration: 24 weeks Bone density changes did not differ from placebo at any site; a bone-formation marker (P1NP) fell compared with placebo, and side effects were similar across groups. 108 of 134 women completed the study. | 35523116 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Blood markers of bone metabolism | Mixed | Grade D | Meta-analysis · n = 354 · 2025 Seven human trials Form: Cissus quadrangularis preparations · Dose: Varied across trials · Duration: Varied across trials Cissus raised parathyroid hormone levels but did not change calcium, phosphorus or alkaline phosphatase; certainty of evidence was very low for all four measures. | 40707943 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Body weight and metabolic syndrome markers | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 123 · 2006 Adults with overweight or obesity, with or without a calorie-controlled diet Form: Multi-ingredient Cissus formulation · Dose: 514 mg twice daily (from the full text; not in the abstract) · Duration: 8 weeks The formulation groups had net reductions in weight, central obesity, fasting glucose, total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and C-reactive protein compared with placebo, with or without dieting. | 16948861 (opens PubMed)Source [7] |
| Body weight, body fat and waist size | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 72 · 2008 Adults with overweight or obesity Form: Cissus extract alone or with Irvingia gabonensis (African mango) · Dose: 150 mg Cissus twice daily, or 250 mg Cissus–Irvingia twice daily (from the full text; not in the abstract) · Duration: 10 weeks Both active groups lost more weight, body fat and waist size than placebo by week 10, with larger losses for the Cissus–Irvingia combination. | 18377661 (opens PubMed)Source [6] |
| Body fat measured by DEXA scan | Improved | Grade D | Pilot RCT · n = 67 · 2019 Adults with overweight and metabolic syndrome features who kept their usual diet and exercise Form: CQR-300 stem and leaf water extract · Dose: 300 mg daily · Duration: 8 weeks Body fat fell 12.8% by DEXA with the extract versus no change with placebo; waist, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting glucose also fell compared with placebo. | 29912570 (opens PubMed)Source [5] |
| Wrist fracture union on X-ray | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 50 · 2026 Adults aged 30–50 with distal radius fractures Form: CL16019 (Cissus quadrangularis plus Boswellia serrata extracts) added to standard care · Dose: Dose not stated in the abstract · Duration: 60 days Radiographic union scores were higher and pain and wrist-function scores better with the combination plus standard care than with standard care alone. | 41896193 (opens PubMed)Source [9] |
| Joint pain scores (WOMAC) | Improved | Grade D | Open-label trial · n = 29 · 2013 Exercise-trained men aged 20–46 with chronic joint pain Form: Cissus quadrangularis · Dose: 3,200 mg daily · Duration: 8 weeks Total WOMAC score fell about 31% from baseline; there was no placebo group, and no clinical blood measure changed. | 24113700 (opens PubMed)Source [8] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standardized stem and leaf extract (e.g. CQR-300) | Varies[4][5] | No human absorption data in our sources.[5] | No serious adverse effects reported in the 8- and 16-week weight trials.[4][5] | Weight and body-fat trials at 300 mg/day |
| Whole-herb powder or capsules | Varies[3][8] | No human absorption data in our sources.[3] | Side effects did not differ from placebo at 1.2–1.6 g/day for 24 weeks.[3] | Bone-density trial (1.2–1.6 g/day) and joint-pain pilot (3.2 g/day) |
| Combination products (with Irvingia, Boswellia or other ingredients) | Varies[6][7][9] | No absorption data in our sources.[6] | Headache, gas, dry mouth, diarrhea and insomnia were the most common events in one multi-ingredient trial.[7] | Weight, metabolic and fracture-repair trials |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 300 mg/day of a stem and leaf extract for 8–16 weeks in weight trials, to 1.2–1.6 g/day for 24 weeks in a bone-density trial and 3.2 g/day for 8 weeks in an uncontrolled joint-pain pilot.[4][5][3][8]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Who should be careful
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- The trials cited here enrolled non-pregnant adults only, so there are no safety data for pregnancy or breastfeeding.[1][3]
- People on diabetes medicines
- Fasting glucose fell in several weight trials; anyone using glucose-lowering drugs should check with a clinician first.[4][5][7]
- Children
- No trials in children are cited here.[1]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
How to read the label
- Label dose vs clinical doseWeight trials used 300 mg/day of a specific stem and leaf extract; bone and joint studies used 1.2–3.2 g/day of plant material.[4][3][8]
- Extract type mattersResults from the CQR-300 extract cannot be assumed for other Cissus powders or blends.[5][11]
- Combination productsMany products pair Cissus with other ingredients, and the largest pooled weight effect came from combination products only.[1][7]
Cost per studied dose, without the sales pitch
Compare any product you already have by the amount it delivers, not by capsule count or front-of-pack weight.
Cost per studied dose
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Frequently asked questions
Does Cissus quadrangularis help with weight loss?
Trials from one research group found weight and body-fat loss with 300 mg/day of an extract over 8–16 weeks, but no independent group has confirmed the results.[4][5][6]
Does Cissus strengthen bones?
In a 24-week trial in postmenopausal women with osteopenia, 1.2–1.6 g/day did not change bone density compared with placebo.[3]
Does Cissus help joint pain?
An 8-week pilot in 29 exercise-trained men found lower joint pain scores at 3.2 g/day, but there was no placebo group.[8]
Is Cissus quadrangularis safe?
A meta-analysis of nine randomized trials found no serious adverse effects; long-term safety and use in pregnancy have not been studied.[1][11]
Does Cissus help hemorrhoids?
No. Pooled trials found it worked no better than comparators for hemorrhoid symptoms.[1]
Sources
- [1]Efficacy and Safety of Cissus quadrangularis L. in Clinical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. Phytother Res, 2017. meta-analysis
- [2]The effects of Cissus quadrangularis on bone-related biomarkers in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. BMC Complement Med Ther, 2025. meta-analysis
- [3]The effect of Cissus quadrangularis L. on delaying bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.. Phytomedicine, 2022. RCT
- [4]Effects of Dichrostachys glomerata and Cissus quadrangularis Extracts on GLP-1 Secretion and DPP-4 Activity in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. Medicina (Kaunas), 2025. RCT
- [5]The Use of a Stem and Leaf Aqueous Extract of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) to Reduce Body Fat and Other Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight Participants.. J Altern Complement Med, 2019. pilot-RCT
- [6]The use of a Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.. Lipids Health Dis, 2008. RCT
- [7]The use of a Cissus quadrangularis formulation in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome.. Lipids Health Dis, 2006. RCT
- [8]Cissus quadrangularis reduces joint pain in exercise-trained men: a pilot study.. Phys Sportsmed, 2013. open-label
- [9]CL16019, A Combination of Cissus quadrangularis and Boswellia serrata Extracts Promotes the Healing of Distal Radius Fractures: A Multicentric, Randomized, Open-Label Study.. J Integr Complement Med, 2026. RCT
- [10]Cissus quadrangularis L: A comprehensive multidisciplinary review.. J Ethnopharmacol, 2021. review
- [11]A review and evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Cissus quadrangularis extracts.. Phytother Res, 2013. review
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title and year taken from the record) and abstracts read for the cited rows.
- Adversarial review pass: every evidence row re-read against its PubMed abstract; doses for the 2006 and 2008 trials taken from the full texts (PMC1570348, PMC2330043). Official sources: the NIH ODS Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss fact sheet (updated May 18, 2022, opened 2026-10-10) has no Cissus section, and NCCIH has no Cissus page, so no official monograph is cited. Industry ties: Gateway Health Alliances supplied extracts (2008); the University of Yaoundé 1 funded the 2019 pilot; the J&A Oben Foundation funded the 2025 trial. Retraction, expression-of-concern, erratum and withdrawn checks on all 11 PMIDs: none flagged (a 2015 rat study with an erratum, 26089642, was not used). Page set indexable. Independent browser review (4 parallel reviewers, every evidence row checked against its abstract and official sources on the Vercel preview) found issues that were fixed: evidence direction now follows the site convention (up = improved, down = worsened), plus wording and disclosure corrections listed in the batch-14 PR review comment.