OBJECTIVE: To probe into the clinical efficacy of glucosamine hydrochloride combined with Xianling Gubao capsules in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted into the outpatient department or ward of Qinhuangdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from Oct. 2020 to Sept. 2021 were extracted to be divided into the control group and the observation group via the random number table, with 40 cases in each group. Both groups were given conventional treatment, the control group received oral Glucosamine hydrochloride tablets, while the observation group was treated with oral Xianling Gubao capsules on the basis of the control group. The course of treatment was 8 weeks. The inflammatory factors [hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6)] of two groups were detected. The clinical efficacy, joint pain [visual analog scale (VAS)] and joint function (Lysholm knee function scale) and quality of life [quality of life questionnaire (SF-36)] of two groups were evaluated. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the observation group was 90. 00% (36/40), significantly higher than 67. 50% (27/40) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). After 1 month and 2 months of treatment, the levels of serum hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0. 05). After 1 month and 2 months of treatment, the SF-36 score and Lysholm knee function score in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, while the VAS score was significantly lower than that in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0. 05). The incidence of adverse drug reactions in the observation group and control group were respectively 7. 50% (3/40) and 10. 00% (4/40), with no significant difference ( P > 0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of glucosamine hydrochloride combined with Xianling Gubao capsules in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is significant, which can significantly reduce the inflammation and joint pain symptoms, significantly improve the quality of life of patients, with higher safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]