Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with unknown
etiology, characterized by progressive cartilage erosion leading to joint distortion and
polyarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis significantly affects the quality of life.
Approximately 1% population of the world suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, and
prevalence of RA is increasing day by day. There are many synthetic compounds
available for the management and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis but,- these
therapeutic agents have significant side effects like diarrhea, rashes, alopecia,
stomatitis, infrequent myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity and other toxicities. Moreover,
symptoms can reappear after discontinuation of the therapy. Because of these side
effects, and limitations of the existing synthetic drug, patients are shifting their interest
from synthetic to natural products for the treatment well as management of rheumatoid
arthritis.This chapter gives an overview of several plants having medicinal properties
with a potent therapeutic value that can be used for the management of rheumatoid
arthritis.
Keywords: Cartilage erosion, Clinical study, Etiology, FCA, Joint distortion, Medicinal plants, Polyarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Synthetic drugs, Toxicity.
