Antiarthritic Activities of Herbal Isolates: A Comprehensive Review

Numerous plant isolates with therapeutic properties, such as antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antimalarial, antiarthritic (AA), hepatoprotective, cardiotonic, and so forth, are reported in the literature. Usually, medicinal plants are widely used, and assumed to be safe and cheaper alternatives to chemically synthesized drugs. However, they are not regulated for potency and purity, and thus care must be taken for their safe use. In this review, we aimed to compile all of the herbal isolates possessing AA properties, including alkaloids (montanine, 3-acetylaconitine, sanguinarine, jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, and piperine), terpenoids (eugenol, nimbolide, bartogenic acid, cannabidiol, and curcumin), and flavonoids (quercetin, resveratrol, kaempferol, chebulanin, ellagic acid, rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and brazilin). These isolates act through numerous pharmacological mechanisms such as inhibiting cytokines, chemokines, or matrix metalloproteinase, etc., to demonstrate AA activity. Animal models utilized for assessing the AA properties of these isolates, including adjuvant-induced arthritis mouse models, are also discussed. Furthermore, nanotechnology-based approaches to deliver these isolates are also reviewed, which have shown improved therapeutic efficacy of isolated compounds.