Planta Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2627-4183
Reviews

Plant-derived Bioactive Substances with Anti-rheumatoid Arthritis Properties

Authors

  • Haoyue Jiang

    1   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
    2   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Chronic Disease Occurrence and Nutrition Intervention, College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
  • Ze Sun

    1   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
    2   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Chronic Disease Occurrence and Nutrition Intervention, College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
  • Xiaoya Zhao

    1   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
    2   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Chronic Disease Occurrence and Nutrition Intervention, College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
  • Yang Wei

    1   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
  • Xujiahua Ma

    1   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
  • Aiwei Tang

    1   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
  • Yidan Wang

    1   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
  • Jiong Li

    4   State Key Laboratory of New Targets Discovery and Drug Development for Major Diseases, Gannan Innovation and Translational Medicine Research Institute, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
  • Xiuli Bi

    1   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
    2   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Chronic Disease Occurrence and Nutrition Intervention, College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
  • Huiyan Zhou

    3   Department of Geriatric General Practice, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
  • Zhe Yang

    1   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
    2   College of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Chronic Disease Occurrence and Nutrition Intervention, College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, grant number 31800688, China Scholarship Council, grant number No. 202406800020, the Foundation of Liaoning Educational Committee of China, grant number JYTMS20230765, the Science and Technology Project of Department of Science & Technology of Liaoning province of China, grant number 2024-MSLH-185, the Shenyang Youth Science and Technology Innovation Project, grant number RC220177, and the Screening of small-molecule tumor suppression compounds project, grant number SDUZHHT (2022) 2448 to Zhe Yang, as well as the Foundation of Liaoning Educational Committee of China, grant number LJ232410164021 to Huiyan Zhou and the Science and Technology Project of Hunan Province, grant number 2023JJ40882 to Jiong Li.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the accumulation of synovial fluid in joints, synovial inflammation, and cartilage damage. With the development of the disease, it may result in joint deformity, which affects the normal joint function of patients and seriously endangers peopleʼs life and health. According to statistics, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis increases with age. However, there is currently no drug that can completely cure rheumatoid arthritis; only through certain drugs and measures can the progression of the disease be delayed. Plant-derived bioactive substances have garnered extensive research attention for their therapeutic potential in treating various diseases. Studies have shown that plant-derived bioactive substances play an important role in preventing rheumatoid arthritis. This review comprehensively and systematically evaluates plant-derived bioactive substances with anti-arthritic properties, specifically focusing on bioactive substances including flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenes, alkaloids, phenols, quinones, and phenylpropanoids, and elucidates their mechanisms of action to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.



Publication History

Received: 12 December 2024

Accepted after revision: 29 May 2025

Article published online:
04 November 2025

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