Natural Formulations: Novel Viewpoint for Scleroderma Adjunct Treatment

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Scleroderma is a complex autoimmune disease affecting connective tissues, with unknown causes and potential for widespread organ involvement.
• Current scleroderma treatments focus on managing inflammation, as no cure exists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of scleroderma.
• To explore recent research on medicinal plants and natural formulations for scleroderma treatment and prevention.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library.
• Keywords included "scleroderma", "systemic sclerosis", "plant", "herb", and "phytochemical".
• 22 relevant articles were selected from 1513 initial results.

Main Results:

• Natural products can regulate inflammatory and oxidative pathways.
• These compounds can modulate immune cell activity and collagen synthesis.
• This modulation helps reduce the severity of experimental and clinical scleroderma.

Conclusions:

• Natural compounds offer potential as complementary therapies for scleroderma.
• These adjunct treatments may enhance the quality of life for patients with scleroderma.