Growth Horm IGF Res. 2011 Dec;21(6):343-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ghir.2011.09.002. Epub 2011 Oct 19.

Cissus quadrangularis augments IGF system components in human osteoblast like SaOS-2 cells.

Muthusami S, Ramachandran I, Krishnamoorthy S, Govindan R, Narasimhan S. Cissus has been shown to increase levels of IGF-1, -2, and IR in cells treated with the herb. These IGF components have a positive effect on osteoblasts, improving the healing and growth rate of bone.

Effect of Cissus quadrangularis Linn on the development of osteopenia induced by ovariectomy in rats.
Potu BK, Nampurath GK, Rao MS, Bhat KM. Cissus significantly increased bone thickness in rats who had had their ovaries removed. This shows that cissus may be useful in the prevention of osteoporosis, and may be of special interest to post-menopausal women.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Feb 16;133(3):1008-14. Epub 2010 Nov 19.

Anti-inflammatory effect of ethyl acetate extract from Cissus quadrangularis Linn may be involved with induction of heme oxygenase-1 and suppression of NF-B activation.
Srisook K, Palachot M, Mongkol N, Srisook E, Sarapusit S. Cissus induced gene-expression of the HO-1 gene, which exerts an antiinflammatory effect on certain immune cells. This may be useful in limiting the immune response to chromic inflammatory conditions.
Lipids Health Dis. 2008 Mar 31;7:12.

The use of a Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.
Oben JE, Ngondi JL, Momo CN, Agbor GA, Sobgui CS. In a randomized, double blind study on obese patients (male and female), cissus was supplemented over a 10 week period alongside a placebo. After 10 weeks, the cissus group had lost an average of 5kg more mass than the placebo group, which was seen to be statistically significant. The cissus group also lost an average of 10cm more from their waist circumference when compared with the placebo group, and had a 4% mean reduction in body fat compared with the 1% seen in the placebo group. Both of these findings were significant. It was suggested that cissus may improve insulin sensitivity, which may be a cause of some of the weight loss.
Lipids Health Dis. 2007 Feb 4;6:4.

The effect of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) and a Cissus formulation (CORE) on obesity and obesity-induced oxidative stress.
Oben JE, Enyegue DM, Fomekong GI, Soukontoua YB, Agbor GA. 300mg of cissus daily for six weeks was shown to decrease body weight by 4kg on a 2100kcal/day diet compared to a placebo group also on a 2100kcal/day diet. This was found to be statistically significant. There were also significant reductions in total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, and an improvement in the HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the cissus group compared to placebo. Fasting blood glucose was also significantly lowered, which is a good sign of improved insulin sensitivity. Blood triglycerides were also significantly reduced compared to placebo.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Mar 21;110(2):264-70. Epub 2006 Sep 26.

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and venotonic effects of Cissus quadrangularis Linn.

Panthong A, Supraditaporn W, Kanjanapothi D, Taesotikul T, Reutrakul V. There is also some evidence that cissus may have an analgesic (painkilling) effect on the body. When tested in mice, their pain response to an injection of acid was lower with cissus than without. Cissus was also seen to reduce the inflammation response to injuries induced in the mice.

Chem Biol Interact. 2006 Jul 10;161(3):262-70. Epub 2006 May 1.

Gastroprotective action of Cissus quadrangularis extract against NSAID induced gastric ulcer: role of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative damage.
Jainu M, Devi CS. In this study, cissus was used to see if it protected against stomach ulcers caused by high levels of NSAID (such as ibuprofen) in rats. The researchers found that tissue damage and ulcer prevalence was reduced due to the positive effects of cissus on glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels, which protected against damage. Cissus also protected against DNA damage from the NSAIDs within the stomach.

J Med Food. 2003 Summer;6(2):99-105.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Cissus quadrangularis

Chidambara Murthy KN, Vanitha A, Mahadeva Swamy M, Ravishankar GA. Analysis of the cissus root showed that it contained high levels of both anti-oxidants (particularly beta-carotene) and had anti-bacterial properties.

In fact, the stems showed strong anti-bacterial properties against various Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, which are the type of bacteria involved in throat infections and pneumonia.