Emerging Approaches for Phytoconstituent Delivery in the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Bridging Nature and Nanotechnology

ABSTRACT Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition marked by joint inflammation, cartilage destruction, and bone damage. Conventional treatments, including NSAIDs and DMARDs, have shown effectiveness in slowing down disease progression, but prolonged exposure to such medications results in adverse effects and lack of tolerance among patients. In recent times, plant extracts, which are components of traditional medicine practices like Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, have gained interest as potential treatment modalities due to their anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. Many phytochemicals have been found to inhibit molecular mechanisms involved in the development of RA, including cytokine signaling, oxidative stress, and immune cell activation. However, their clinical application is hindered by their low aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability, and rapid metabolism. The present review takes a methodical approach for the integration of traditional knowledge with current treatments for RA. It starts with an overview of important plant components with regard to experimentally proven pharmacological modes of action and targets. Thereafter, modern advancements in nano‐delivery systems and their use for improving stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery to inflamed tissues are briefly described. The existing scientific and clinical data on recent developments in this field, along with the latest patents, are also provided. Overall, this review summarizes the journey from traditional phytotherapy to modern approaches in delivery systems, with an indication of research lacunae that have yet to be bridged.