Review on anti-rheumatoid arthritis potential of medicinal plants

Abstract

Autoimmunity is an immunological disorder in which immune response against self-antigens is provoked. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of its kinds of chronic autoimmune disorder causing inflammation and infiltration of immune cells around the synovial membrane, which leads to destruction and degradation of cartilages. Steroidal and non-steroidal allopathic therapies available so far cannot cure or prevent the disease. Besides their severe side effects, they can only provide temporary relief by suppressing and reducing the pain in the joints. Detailed search for the related literature has been carried out using multiple searches with words ‘rheumatoid arthritis’; ‘plants for rheumatoid arthritis’ etc. with the help of search engines. Pubmed, Research Gate, Google Scholar have been used for more authentic information support. Alternative medicinal approaches for the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis, as a holistic approach, can be used in a better way for making life much better for the sufferer and restricting the progression of the disease. Some of the approaches carrying ethanotraditional and ethnobotanical importance have been discussed in the review article and tried to assemble all possible plants that show Anti-Rheumatoid Arthritis activity. These approaches are giving some hope for the treatment of RA. The experimental model for investigating the effects of drugs on RA has also been discussed. This could draw a new pathway for future researches as well.