Medicinal plants with potential anti-arthritic activity.

Area of Science:

• Ethnobotany
• Pharmacology
• Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

• Traditional medicinal plants are crucial for arthritis management, especially in resource-limited regions.
• This review compiles global ethnopharmacological data on plants used for arthritis by various communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present comprehensive profiles of medicinal plants used for arthritis treatment.
• To review the research status, geographical distribution, and family prevalence of these plants.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a six-decade bibliographic investigation of classical texts and peer-reviewed scientific literature.
• Included plant profiles with scientific names, families, dosages, mechanisms of action, and toxicity data.
• Analyzed research distribution and plant family prevalence using graphical representations.

Main Results:

• Identified 485 plant species from 100 families traditionally used for arthritis.
• Compositae (20), Solanaceae (12), and Liliaceae (9) were among the most represented families.
• Research on anti-arthritis plants is concentrated in developing countries like India, China, Korea, and Nigeria.

Conclusions:

• The presented list of medicinal plants can guide researchers and practitioners in preliminary screening for anti-arthritis agents.
• Toxicity profiles included in the review are valuable for determining safe dosages.