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43 studies.Every claim, cited.

Peer-reviewed papers from 1994 to 2025 on MMP13 and the ingredients studied against it. Each is labelled with the kind of evidence it is, and links straight to PubMed.

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Evidence

MMP13 biologyHuman cells2024

Higher glucose pushed cells from worn cartilage to make more MMP13 and ADAMTS5, in the oxygen-rich conditions of the cartilage surface.

Elevated glucose promotes MMP13 and ADAMTS5 production by osteoarthritic chondrocytes under oxygenated but not hypoxic conditions.

Jain L et al. · J Cell PhysiolPMID 38595042
MMP13 biologyHuman cells2023

Auckland researchers found cells from worn knee cartilage made more cartilage-breaking enzymes than cells from healthy-looking cartilage when oxygen was plentiful.

Differential Effects of Hypoxia versus Hyperoxia or Physoxia on Phenotype and Energy Metabolism in Human Chondrocytes from Osteoarthritic Compared to Macroscopically Normal Cartilage.

Jain L et al. · Int J Mol SciPMID 37108698
MMP13 biologyHuman cells2023

Leptin at the levels found in joint fluid with metabolic syndrome raised MMP13 in human cartilage cells.

Concentration-dependent effects of leptin on osteoarthritis-associated changes in phenotype of human chondrocytes.

Primrose JG et al. · Connect Tissue ResPMID 37171229
MMP13 biologyReview2021

Review of MMP13 as the primary cartilage-degrading enzyme, singled out for cleaving type II collagen, and why research now targets it.

Overview of MMP-13 as a Promising Target for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis.

Hu Q, Ecker M · Int J Mol SciPMID 33572320
MMP13 biologyReview2021

Review: ADAMTS5 is the major aggrecanase in joint cartilage, driven by senescence, inheritance, inflammation and mechanical stress.

ADAMTS5 in Osteoarthritis: Biological Functions, Regulatory Network, and Potential Targeting Therapies.

Jiang L et al. · Front Mol BiosciPMID 34434966
MMP13 biologyHuman cells2019

Inflammation, oxidative stress and calcium crystals unsettle the cartilage cell's clock, and moving the clock genes moved MMP13 up or down.

Altered expression of the core circadian clock component PERIOD2 contributes to osteoarthritis-like changes in chondrocyte activity.

Rong J et al. · Chronobiol IntPMID 30403881
MMP13 biologyHuman cells2019

Calcium phosphate crystals raised MMP13 in human cartilage cells through a calcium signalling pathway. Blocking that pathway reversed it.

Basic Calcium Phosphate Crystals Induce Osteoarthritis-Associated Changes in Phenotype Markers in Primary Human Chondrocytes by a Calcium/Calmodulin Kinase 2-Dependent Mechanism.

Rong J et al. · Calcif Tissue IntPMID 30456555
MMP13 biologyHuman cells2016

Cartilage cells keep their own body clock. Switching off the clock gene BMAL1 in healthy cells raised MMP13.

The chondrocyte-intrinsic circadian clock is disrupted in human osteoarthritis.

Snelling SJ et al. · Chronobiol IntPMID 27019373
MMP13 biologyHuman tissue2016

Carbon-14 dating of knee cartilage from 23 people showed virtually no replacement of the collagen matrix after skeletal maturity, healthy or not.

Radiocarbon dating reveals minimal collagen turnover in both healthy and osteoarthritic human cartilage.

Heinemeier KM et al. · Sci Transl MedPMID 27384346
MMP13 biologyReview2011

Review: MMP13 is the main collagenase in worn cartilage, with the highest activity against type II collagen, and losing that collagen is considered irreversible.

New hope for the treatment of osteoarthritis through selective inhibition of MMP-13.

Li NG et al. · Curr Med ChemPMID 21254976
MMP13 biologyReview2010

Review: humans carry four TIMP genes, the body's own inhibitors of MMPs and of several ADAM and ADAMTS enzymes.

The tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs): an ancient family with structural and functional diversity.

Brew K, Nagase H · Biochim Biophys ActaPMID 20080133
MMP13 biologyAnimal2009

Mice without MMP13 had less cartilage erosion eight weeks after a knee injury, even though they still lost aggrecan.

Matrix metalloproteinase 13-deficient mice are resistant to osteoarthritic cartilage erosion but not chondrocyte hypertrophy or osteophyte development.

Little CB et al. · Arthritis RheumPMID 19950295
MMP13 biologyHuman trial2007

A broad MMP-blocking drug showed no benefit over placebo in a year-long trial of 401 people and caused joint, shoulder and hand side effects.

Development of musculoskeletal toxicity without clear benefit after administration of PG-116800, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, to patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, 12-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Krzeski P et al. · Arthritis Res TherPMID 17958901
MMP13 biologyHuman cells2005

Cartilage cells from older donors made significantly more MMP13 when provoked than cells from younger donors.

Increased matrix metalloproteinase-13 production with aging by human articular chondrocytes in response to catabolic stimuli.

Forsyth CB et al. · J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciPMID 16183949
MMP13 biologyAnimal2005

Mice lacking working ADAMTS5 had significantly less cartilage destruction after a joint injury, marking it as the main aggrecan-cutting enzyme in that model.

Deletion of active ADAMTS5 prevents cartilage degradation in a murine model of osteoarthritis.

Glasson SS et al. · NaturePMID 15800624
MMP13 biologyHuman tissue2002

In healthy ankle cartilage, collagen-cutting enzymes were present but did not rise with age, and collagen stayed in balance. Age alone did not look like breakdown.

Matrix homeostasis in aging normal human ankle cartilage.

Aurich M et al. · Arthritis RheumPMID 12428230
MMP13 biologyReview2002

Review: collagen makes up two-thirds of the dry mass of adult joint cartilage, and type II collagen is its main molecule.

Collagen of articular cartilage.

Eyre D · Arthritis ResPMID 11879535
MMP13 biologyAnimal2001

Mice engineered to make always-active human MMP13 in their cartilage developed cartilage erosion, proteoglycan loss and excess type II collagen cleavage.

Postnatal expression in hyaline cartilage of constitutively active human collagenase-3 (MMP-13) induces osteoarthritis in mice.

Neuhold LA et al. · J Clin InvestPMID 11134178
MMP13 biologyHuman tissue2000

Cartilage collagen renews so slowly that its half-life was calculated at 117 years. Skin collagen's is 15.

Effect of collagen turnover on the accumulation of advanced glycation end products.

Verzijl N et al. · J Biol ChemPMID 10976109
MMP13 biologyLab2000

The inflammatory signal IL-1 needed three cell pathways, p38, JNK and NF-kB, to switch on MMP13 in cartilage cells. MMP-1 was switched on by a different set.

Interleukin-1 induction of collagenase 3 (matrix metalloproteinase 13) gene expression in chondrocytes requires p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and nuclear factor kappaB: differential regulation of collagenase 1 and collagenase 3.

Mengshol JA et al. · Arthritis RheumPMID 10765924
MMP13 biologyHuman tissue1996

Cartilage cells in worn human cartilage make MMP13, and it broke down type II collagen at least ten times faster than MMP-1.

Cloning, expression, and type II collagenolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-13 from human osteoarthritic cartilage.

Mitchell PG et al. · J Clin InvestPMID 8609233
MMP13 biologyHuman cells1996

Human cartilage cells make and release MMP13. Cells from the joint lining did not.

The new collagenase, collagenase-3, is expressed and synthesized by human chondrocytes but not by synoviocytes. A role in osteoarthritis.

Reboul P et al. · J Clin InvestPMID 8621789
MMP13 biologyLab1996

Purified human MMP13 cut type II collagen in preference to types I and III, also broke down gelatin, and was blocked one to one by the body's own inhibitors TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3.

Biochemical characterization of human collagenase-3.

Knäuper V et al. · J Biol ChemPMID 8576151
MMP13 biologyLab1996

MMP13 also cuts aggrecan, the cushioning molecule in cartilage, at a site shared with other MMPs and at a new site of its own.

Degradation of cartilage aggrecan by collagenase-3 (MMP-13).

Fosang AJ et al. · FEBS LettPMID 8603731
MMP13 biologyLab1994

The first cloning of collagenase-3, the enzyme now called MMP13. It was found in breast tumours and not in the normal tissues the team tested.

Molecular cloning and expression of collagenase-3, a novel human matrix metalloproteinase produced by breast carcinomas.

Freije JM et al. · J Biol ChemPMID 8207000
BoswelliaHuman trial2025

Placebo-controlled trial of a standardised boswellia extract: better knee function, MRI cartilage volume and thickness up, and collagen breakdown markers down.

A Standardized Boswellia serrata Extract Improves Knee Joint Function and Cartilage Morphology in Human Volunteers with Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritis in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.

Kumar B et al. · J Am Nutr AssocPMID 39700461
BoswelliaHuman trial2025

90-day trial of boswellia with celery seed: collagen breakdown markers fell and collagen-building markers rose against placebo.

Efficacy and Safety of Boswellia serrata and Apium graveolens L. Extract Against Knee Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Degeneration: A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Vaidya N et al. · Pharm ResPMID 39875757
BoswelliaAnimal2025

AKBA, the lead boswellic acid, suppressed MMP13, calmed inflammatory signalling and protected cartilage in rats.

Acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid ameliorates monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in rats: implications of HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1.

Abo-Zalam HB et al. · Front PharmacolPMID 41403440
BoswelliaAnimal2022

A boswellia extract protected the cartilage matrix in rats by turning down matrix metalloproteinases.

Boswellia serrata Extract, 5-Loxin®, Prevents Joint Pain and Cartilage Degeneration in a Rat Model of Osteoarthritis through Inhibition of Inflammatory Responses and Restoration of Matrix Homeostasis.

Shin MR et al. · Evid Based Complement Alternat MedPMID 36310623
BoswelliaLab2010

Frankincense (Boswellia frereana) extract turned down matrix enzymes and stopped collagen breakdown in cartilage samples.

Boswellia frereana (frankincense) suppresses cytokine-induced matrix metalloproteinase expression and production of pro-inflammatory molecules in articular cartilage.

Blain EJ et al. · Phytother ResPMID 19943332
BoswelliaHuman trialLab2010

Two boswellia extracts both beat placebo for knee discomfort and function over 90 days. In the lab, Aflapin inhibited MMP-3.

Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 5-Loxin and Aflapin Against osteoarthritis of the knee: a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical study.

Sengupta K et al. · Int J Med SciPMID 21060724
BoswelliaHuman trial2008

90-day placebo-controlled trial of a boswellia extract: less knee discomfort, better function, and lower MMP-3 in joint fluid.

A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study of the efficacy and safety of 5-Loxin for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Sengupta K et al. · Arthritis Res TherPMID 18667054
CurcuminHuman cellsAnimal2025

Curcumin with omega-3 lowered MMP1, MMP3 and MMP13 in human cartilage cells and conserved cartilage in an animal model.

Curcumin and omega-3 ameliorate experimental osteoarthritis progression in terms of joint pain and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Jhun J et al. · J Inflamm (Lond)PMID 40665304
CurcuminLabAnimal2025

A curcumin compound bound and blocked MMP13, protected cartilage samples, and outperformed a dedicated MMP13-blocking drug in rats.

Curcumin monoglucuronide protects cartilage from progressive degeneration by blocking MMP-13.

Roy HS et al. · Arch Pharm ResPMID 40731199
CurcuminLab2017

Curcumin turned down MMP13 and restored type II collagen in cartilage cells exposed to an inflammatory signal.

Regulation of type II collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-13 and cell proliferation by interleukin-1β is mediated by curcumin via inhibition of NF-κB signaling in rat chondrocytes.

Wang J et al. · Mol Med RepPMID 28627596
CurcuminHuman studyAnimal1998

On its own, curcumin barely reached the blood. Taken with piperine from black pepper, its absorption in human volunteers rose by 2000%.

Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers.

Shoba G et al. · Planta MedPMID 9619120
GlucosamineHuman cells2011

In human hip cartilage cells, glucosamine cut cytokine-driven IL-1 beta expression fourfold, but MMP13 rose with the cytokines regardless of glucosamine.

The epigenetic effect of glucosamine and a nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) inhibitor on primary human chondrocytes--implications for osteoarthritis.

Imagawa K et al. · Biochem Biophys Res CommunPMID 21219853
GlucosamineHuman cells2007

In human cartilage cells and stem cells grown as pellets, glucosamine at 100 micromolar inhibited MMP13 expression. High doses were inhibitory to matrix genes.

Glucosamine promotes chondrogenic phenotype in both chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells and inhibits MMP-13 expression and matrix degradation.

Derfoul A et al. · Osteoarthritis CartilagePMID 17337215
GlucosamineHuman cells2003

Glucosamine lowered MMP-3, a sister enzyme of MMP13, and raised aggrecan in cartilage cells taken from patients' knees.

Glucosamine sulfate modulates the levels of aggrecan and matrix metalloproteinase-3 synthesized by cultured human osteoarthritis articular chondrocytes.

Dodge GR, Jimenez SA · Osteoarthritis CartilagePMID 12801482
ChondroitinHuman cells2022

Chondroitin suppressed MMP-9 and MMP-2 in human cartilage cells and raised the cells' own enzyme brakes and type II collagen.

Chondroitin Sulfate Enhances Proliferation and Migration via Inducing β-Catenin and Intracellular ROS as Well as Suppressing Metalloproteinases through Akt/NF-κB Pathway Inhibition in Human Chondrocytes.

Hsu HC et al. · J Nutr Health AgingPMID 35297475
Hyaluronic acidHuman cells2011

Hyaluronan inhibited MMP13 in human cartilage cells, more at higher doses, through the CD44 receptor.

Hyaluronan inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-13 in human arthritic chondrocytes via CD44 and P38.

Julovi SM et al. · J Orthop ResPMID 20706991
Vitamin CLabAnimal2016

Vitamin C prevented the rise in MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-13 in cartilage cells and lessened cartilage changes in rats.

Vitamin C Protects Chondrocytes against Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis by Multiple Pathways.

Chiu PR et al. · Int J Mol SciPMID 28035982
NACAnimal2019

NAC by mouth held back MMP13 and the loss of type II collagen, and prevented joint changes in rats.

Oral administration of N-acetyl cysteine prevents osteoarthritis development and progression in a rat model.

Kaneko Y et al. · Sci RepPMID 31822750

No studies match that search.

How to read the labels.

Human trial

People, usually against a placebo. The strongest evidence here, but it tests one extract at one dose.

Human cells

Cartilage cells or tissue from human donors, often from joint replacements, studied in a dish.

Animal

Usually rats with induced joint damage. Useful for mechanism; doses and biology differ from ours.

Lab

Cell lines or tissue samples. Shows how a compound can act, not what it does in a body.

Last reviewed 3 November 2026Every study cited here is indexed on PubMed. How we read the evidence