A COMPREHENSIVE EXPLORATION FOR MANAGING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH MEDICINAL PLANTS

Background: Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks self-antigens, leading to chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation, immune cell infiltration, and synovial membrane damage, ultimately resulting in cartilage degradation and joint destruction. Although steroidal and non-steroidal allopathic treatments are available, they provide only temporary relief by reducing pain and inflammation without curing or preventing disease progression. Furthermore, long-term use of these treatments is associated with severe side effects, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Methodology: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar. Keywords including ―rheumatoid arthritis‖ and ―plants for rheumatoid arthritis‖ were utilized to identify relevant studies on plant-based treatments for RA. Various medicinal plants with ethnobotanical and ethanomedicinal significance were analyzed for their potential therapeutic benefits in managing RA symptoms.