Compounds known as glucosides, extracted from the root of a flower called the Chinese peony, alleviated dryness, lessened fatigue, and reduced overall disease burden in Sjögren’s syndrome patients, a randomized trial in China shows.
Trial findings were published in the study, “The efficacy and safety of total glucosides of peony in the treatment of primary Sjögren’s syndrome: a multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial,” in the journal Clinical Rheumatology.
Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks certain glands, such as those producing saliva and tears. As a result, patients often have dry eyes and mouth. However, nearly a third of patients have symptoms outside these glands.