Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the small joints of the feet and hands, causing polyarticular inflammation. Uncontrolled synovial tissue is the most prominent symptom of this disease. If left untreated, it can result in significant impairment, adversely impacting the patient's quality of life and elevating death risk. Genetic, environmental, and epigenetic variables are all important in the etiology of this disease. The risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis is not age-related, people over the age of 40, particularly women, are significantly more likely to get the disease than men. There are a variety of therapies that are provided based on the severity of the ailment. However, all of these therapeutic techniques have negative effects as well as significant prices. More than 80% of the population in the world is now believed to use medicinal plants to maintain their health. Plants are the most abundant source of antimicrobial agents, and extracts of numerous edible plant species, herbs, and spices have long been used to preserve food due to the presence of potentially powerful antibacterial components. Not only minerals and primary metabolites are found in medicinal plants, but also a wide range of possible chemical compounds that aid in the adsorption and neutralization of free radicals. Some of the plants that show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties against rheumatoid arthritis are discussed in this chapter.

Keywords: Autoimmune Response, Inflammatory Diseases, Medicinal Plants, Pathophysiology, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Therapeutic Significance.