Ethno Pharmacological Relevance: Traditional medicinal plants are practiced worldwide for treatment of arthritis especially in developing countries where resources are meager. This review presents the plants profiles inhabiting throughout the world regarding their traditional usage by various tribes/ethnic groups for treatment of arthritis.Materials and Methods:Bibliographic investigation was carried out by analyzing classical text books and peer reviewed papers, consulting worldwide accepted scientific databases from the last six decades. Plants/their parts/extracts/polyherbal formulations, toxicity studies for arthritis have been included in the review article. The profiles presented also include information about the scientific name, family, dose, methodology along with mechanism of action and toxicity profile. Research status of 20 potential plant species has been discussed. Further, geographical distribution of research, plants distribution according to families has been given in graphical form.Results:485 plant species belonging to 100 families, traditionally used in arthritis are used. Among 100 plant families, malvaceae constitute 16, leguminasae 7, fabaceae 13, euphorbiaceae 7, compositae 20, araceae 7, solanaceae 12, liliaceae 9, apocynaceae, lauraceae, and rubiaceae 10, and remaining in lesser proportion. It was observed in our study that majority of researches are carried mainly in developing countries like India, China, Korea and Nigeria.Conclusion:This review clearly indicates that list of medicinal plants presented in this review might be useful to researchers as well as practioners. This review can be useful for preliminary screening of potential anti-arthritis plants. Further toxicity profile given in the review can be useful for the researchers for finding the safe dose.

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: Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder, recognized by cartilage as well as bone destruction which causes irreversible joint deformities, which further results in functional limitations in the patient. Genes like HLA-DRB1 and PTPN22 are likely implicated in the genetic predisposition of rheumatoid arthritis pathology. The first and foremost clinical manifestation person with rheumatoid arthritis, is joint destruction followed by cartilage and bone destruction caused by cell-cell interactions. The cell-cell interactions are thought to be initialized through the contact of Antigenpresenting cell (APC) with CD4+ cells, all this leads to the progression of the disease. APC includes a complex of class ІІ major histocompatibility complex molecules along with peptide antigens and binds to the receptors present on the surface of T-cells. Further, the activation of macrophage is followed by the release of various pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-α which leads to the secretion of enzymes that degrade proteoglycan and collagen which in turn increases the tissue degradation. Biomarkers like IL-6, IL-12, IL-8 and IL-18, 14-3-3η, RANKL, IFN-γ, IFN-β and TGF-β have been designated as key biomarkers in disease development and progression. The study of these biomarkers is very important as it acts as a molecular indicator of pathological processes that aggravate the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition that involves the destruction of bone as well as cartilage architecture and induces extensive joint pain, stiffness and swelling. The condition is characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, TNF-α, which results in synovial hyperplasia and pannus formation. Currently, no effective curative treatment is available for RA patients and the existing ones produce numerous unwanted effects. So, phytoconstituents have been considered as a potential source for many such chronic conditions with minimal side effects. Phytomolecules such as Andrographolide, Berberine, Curcumin, Ginsenoside, Hesperidin, Kirenol, Madecassocide and various other polyphenolic compounds are under clinical or pre-clinical trials for their anti.arthritic efficacy. Phytochemicals used in the treatment of arthritis target the inflammatory signaling pathway and hyperactive immune reactions. The compounds, in addition to anti-inflammatory activity, also suppress bone erosion and osteoclastic activity. Furthermore, phytomolecules inhibit the release and generation of reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory cytokines.

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