Role of Natural Products in Combatting Rheumatoid Arthritis: Phytochemical Strategies and Antioxidant Defences

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a persistent inflammatory autoimmune illness that damages bones by causing joint discomfort, edema, and stiffness. In RA, inflammatory cell infiltration and synovial hyperplasia lead to the generation of proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-1. To find phytochemical substances utilised in RA treatment, SciELO, Virtual Health Library, and PubMed databases were searched for rheumatoid arthritis, herbal remedies, and medicinal plants. One of the predominant transcription factors is NF-κB, in regulating inflammatory response. Translocation of active NF-κB into the nucleus leads to gene transcription that produces proinflammatory cytokines. Oxidative stress changes transcription factors, which affects inflammatory gene expression. Phytochemicals have treated various diseases, blocking NF-κB translocation mitigates proinflammatory cascade activation (Withanolides, Gugglosterone, Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, O-glucosylcimifugin, Andrographolide, Curcuminoids, and Resveratrol), Flavonoids (Quercetin, Hesperidin, Kaempferol, Liquirin). Their therapeutic potential aids in creating safe and effective medicines for NF-κB-driven immune-inflammatory disorders like RA. This study emphasises the involvement of NF-κB in a series of events of inflammation, highlighting the role of phytochemicals in regulating its activity. It also discusses the effectiveness of polyphenols in relieving RA by blocking the signalling pathways and suggests a further study to support their usage.