The disclosure provides a method of joint repair or replacement in a mammal including surgically debriding a joint, administering a composition including a therapeutically effective amount of protocatechuic acid for between about 1 day and 1 month prior to arthroscopically debriding the joint, and administering the composition for between 1 day and 6 months after arthroscopically debriding the joint. The administration of the composition may be through oral administration. The composition may be a tablet, a pill, or a capsule. The tablet, the pill, or the capsule may include about 500 mg of protocatechuic acid.