Abstract
Essential oils (EOs) are known to possess a number of beneficial properties. Their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and cancer-preventing activities have been extensively reported. Due to their wide use as food preservers and additives, as well as their use in agriculture, perfumes, and make-up products, these complex mixtures of volatile compounds have gained importance from a commercial point of view, not only in the pharmaceutical industry, but also in agronomic, food, cosmetic, and perfume industries. An analysis of the recent scientific literature allowed us to highlight the presence of an increasing number of studies on the potential antiarthritic properties of EOs and their main constituents, which seems to suggest a new interesting potential therapeutic application. The aim of this review is to examine the current knowledge on the beneficial effects of essential oils in the treatment of arthritic diseases, providing an overview of the reports on the in vivo and in vitro effects of EOs. Furthermore, this review critically examines the recent findings on the potential roles of the main components of EOs in the exerted beneficial effects. Obtained negative results are also reported.
Highlights
IntroductionThe term “arthritis” derives from the Greek words “arthron” and “ites”, which mean inflammation of the joint
Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health problems and a major cause of disability [1].The term “arthritis” derives from the Greek words “arthron” and “ites”, which mean inflammation of the joint
Studies focusing on the antiarthritic potential of essential oils in their whole forms or their single pure active components were included in the research, and both in vitro and in vivo studies were taken into account
Summary
The term “arthritis” derives from the Greek words “arthron” and “ites”, which mean inflammation of the joint. It can be defined as a chronic, inflammatory, and systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by pain, swelling, and rigidity of the synovial joints [2]. Osteoarthritis is the most frequent form of arthritis [4] This degenerative disease is characterized by damage to the articular cartilage of the knee, hip, and others lower extremity joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and systemic inflammatory autoimmune disorder in which joint inflammation leads to cartilage and bone damage, disability, and even to systemic complications and enhanced morbidity and mortality [6]. A number of factors, such as genetic factors, the environment, and autoimmunity, Plants 2020, 9, 1252; doi:10.3390/plants9101252 www.mdpi.com/journal/plants
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