A mechanistic review on medicinal plants used for rheumatoid arthritis in traditional Persian medicine

Abstract

Objectives Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease, which affects synovial tissue in multiple joints. Although conventional treatments of RA commonly alleviate the symptoms, high incidence of adverse reactions leads to research tendency towards complementary and alternative medicine. As various medicinal plants are traditionally used for the management of symptomatologies associated with RA in Persian medicine, we reviewed medicinal literature to confirm their efficacy in the management of RA. Key findings Scientific evidence revealed that traditional medicaments exert beneficial effects on RA through several cellular mechanisms including downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-6 and NF-jB, suppression of oxidative stress, inhibition of cartilage degradation with destructive metalloproteinases and enhancement of antioxidant performance. Various active constituents from different chemical categories including flavonols, lignans, coumarins, terpenes, glycosylflavons, dihydroflavonols, phytoestrogens, sesquiterpene lactones, anthraquinones, alkaloids and thymoquinones have been isolated from the medicinal plants. Summary The pharmacological mechanisms of the medicinal plants traditionally used for RA in Persian medicine are discussed in the current review. Further investigations are mandatory to focus on bioefficacy of these phytochemicals for finding novel natural drugs.

(5R)-5-hydroxytriptolide (LLDT-8) prevents collagen-induced arthritis through OPG/RANK/RANKL signaling in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis

“…Numerous previous studies have reported that inflammatory factors have an important role in the development of RA. Despite this, the etiology of this disease remains uncertain (6,12,13).…”

“…Numerous previous studies have reported that inflammatory factors have an important role in the development of RA. Despite this, the etiology of this disease remains uncertain (6,12,13).Tripterygium is an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory effects that is sourced from Anhui, Zhejiang, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. (5R)-5-hydroxytriptolide (LLDT-8) is the extract of Tripterygium leaves, the main ingredients of which have a number of anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory functions (14).…”

A Mechanistic Review on Medicinal Plants Used for Diabetes Mellitus in Traditional Persian Medicine

“…The famous traditional Persian medicine scientists, including Rhazes (854-925 CE), Avicenna (980-1037 CE), Jorjani (1042-1137 CE), Tonkaboni (17th century CE), and Aghili Khorasani (17th-18th century CE) had a pivotal contribution to the growth of medical and pharmaceutical practices. 18 – 20 …”

Bioassay-guided isolation of neuroprotective fatty acids from Nigella sativa against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced neurotoxicity

“…Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α can stimulate COX-2 that leads to overproduction of PGE2. [ 32 ] It has been shown that acacetin protects dopaminergic cells against MPP + -induced neuroinflammation in vitro and in vivo . [ 33 ] It is also reported that FAs have anti-inflammatory properties and, therefore, might be useful in the management of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.…”