Natural Products for the Treatment of Autoimmune Arthritis: Their Mechanisms of Action, Targeted Delivery, and Interplay with the Host Microbiome

Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Aug 24;19(9):2508. doi: 10.3390/ijms19092508.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating illness characterized by painful swelling of the joints, inflammation of the synovial lining of the joints, and damage to cartilage and bone. Several anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying drugs are available for RA therapy. However, the prolonged use of these drugs is associated with severe side effects. Furthermore, these drugs are effective only in a proportion of RA patients. Hence, there is a need to search for new therapeutic agents that are effective yet safe. Interestingly, a variety of herbs and other natural products offer a vast resource for such anti-arthritic agents. We discuss here the basic features of RA pathogenesis; the commonly used animal models of RA; the mainstream drugs used for RA; the use of well-characterized natural products possessing anti-arthritic activity; the application of nanoparticles for efficient delivery of such products; and the interplay between dietary products and the host microbiome for maintenance of health and disease induction. We believe that with several advances in the past decade in the characterization and functional studies of natural products, the stage is set for widespread clinical testing and/or use of these products for the treatment of RA and other diseases.

Keywords: EGCG; Tripterygium wilfordii; adjuvant-induced arthritis; arthritis; celastrol; curcumin; dietary supplements; green tea; inflammation; liposomes; microbiome; nanoparticles; natural products; resveratrol; rheumatoid arthritis; targeted delivery; traditional medicine; triptolide.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis / etiology
  • Arthritis / immunology*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / etiology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / etiology
  • Biological Products / pharmacology
  • Biological Products / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Microbiota
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Plant Preparations / pharmacology
  • Plant Preparations / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Biomarkers
  • Drug Carriers
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Plant Preparations