1 Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Assam Down Town University, Sankar Madhab Path, Gandhinagar, Panikhaiti, Guwahati, Assam, India, Pin -781026
2 Dept of Medical Lab Technology, Sri Venkateshwaraa College of Paramedical Sciences, Ariyur, Puducherry, India, Pin-605102
3 Department of Biochemistry, Theivanai Ammal College for Women, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, India, Pin-605602
* Corresponding Authors: Dr. D. Jayrajan (d.jayarajan@adtu.in) and Dr. Rajib Mandal (rajib.mandal@adtu.in)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent synovial inflammation, progressive joint destruction, and multiple systemic complications that significantly impair patient quality of life. Although conventional pharmacological therapies including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs provide effective short-term symptomatic relief, their long-term use is often limited by reduced efficacy, toxicity, and adverse systemic effects. These limitations have stimulated growing interest in the exploration of natural bioactive compounds as complementary or alternative therapeutic agents for RA management. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of plant-derived phytochemicals, particularly polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and essential oils, in regulating key inflammatory and immune pathways implicated in RA pathogenesis. Emerging evidence indicates that these natural compounds exert diverse pharmacological activities, including antioxidant effects, immunomodulatory actions, suppression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling, and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Through these mechanisms, phytochemicals may help attenuate synovial inflammation, reduce cartilage degradation, and limit disease progression. Findings from in vitro experiments, animal models, and preliminary clinical studies collectively suggest that plant-derived bioactives hold promise in alleviating disease severity and improving functional outcomes in patients with RA. Despite encouraging findings, several challenges remain, including issues related to bioavailability, pharmacokinetic variability, standardization of plant extracts, and the need for long-term safety evaluation. Therefore, well-designed clinical trials and interdisciplinary research integrating pharmacology, molecular biology, and phytochemistry are essential to validate their therapeutic efficacy and facilitate their integration into evidence-based RA treatment strategies. Harnessing the pharmacological diversity of nature may provide a promising pathway toward safer and more sustainable therapeutic interventions for rheumatoid arthritis.
Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Bioactive compounds, Phytochemicals, Anti-inflammatory agents, Natural therapeutics
How to cite this article: Saha S, Malinidevei M, Roy A, Karthika R, Jayrajan D, Mandal R. Nature's Arsenal against Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Narrative Review of Bioactive Compounds and Therapeutic Potentials. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(5): 364-380. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.5.38
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None