Abstract
Arthritis is a chronic condition that affects nearly a quarter of the United States population. Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are two major forms of arthritis associated with severe joint pain and reduced quality of life. Various pharmacological interventions may be utilized for arthritis treatment when non-pharmacological therapy is insufficient. However, pharmacological therapy can be associated with serious side effects and high costs. Therefore, alternative therapies have been under investigation. Herbal medications have shown the potential for safe and effective management of arthritis. For this review, we attempt to summarize the mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of herbal treatments for OA and RA. After searching electronic databases, we identified nine herbs among 23 clinical trials used for the treatment of OA or RA patients. Improvement of OA and RA symptoms, pain, and inflammation was demonstrated. The herbs exhibited strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities, contributing to a reduction in inflammation and tissue damage. Several herbs elucidated new mechanisms for OA and RA treatment as well. Though these herbs have shown promise for OA and RA treatment, more studies and clinical trials are required for determining safety and efficacy, bioactivity, and optimal bioavailability.
Highlights
Arthritis is a common health issue that affects millions of people in the United States [1].Patients suffering from arthritis struggle with severe joint pain and nearly half of all adults with arthritis experience persistent pain [1,2]
We have summarized clinical trials demonstrating the effect of herbal medicines when used for OA and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment
Current pharmacological therapy options recommended for OA and RA are associated with variable efficacy and safety, especially for the treatment of chronic pain and inflammation
Summary
Arthritis is a common health issue that affects millions of people in the United States [1].Patients suffering from arthritis struggle with severe joint pain and nearly half of all adults with arthritis experience persistent pain [1,2]. More than 100 types of arthritis have been identified [3]. Two of the most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis impair joint structure and function but differ in symptoms, pathophysiology, and treatment (Table 1). Osteoarthritis (OA), known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis [4]. OA is a biomechanical and inflammatory disease influenced by several factors such as mechanical and oxidative stress, injury, age, obesity, and metabolic disease [5]. OA is characterized by joint cartilage degeneration, changes in the underlying bone, and synovitis [6]. Pro-inflammatory and pro-catabolic mediators are found localized in synovial fluid and hydrolytic enzymes, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are associated with cartilage degeneration. Signaling pathways and responses, such as those involving nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)
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