Introduction

Inflammation is a mechanism in which the body's immune system is stimulated against damage and reaction to toxic agents in response to bacterial, virus or fungal infections. If the immune system completely eradicates these pathogenic infections and toxic compounds or heals an injury, the inflammation dissipates. The inflammation becomes severe at this point because if it does not heal, then the inflammation is persistent. Chronic inflammation leads to over activation of macrophages, which ultimately causes over production of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and cytokines and thereby induces chronic degenerative diseases like rheumatism, asthma, and atherosclerosis. Rheumatism is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by soreness, stiffness, pain in joints including associated structures and restricted joint movement due to increases in the number of cells of synovial membrane, movement of neutrophills, lymphocytes and monocytes into peripheral tissues and neovascularisation which ultimately leads to articular and cartilage destruction (Patil, Kandhare, & Bhise, 2012) The extent of this disease throughout the world is 1% and approximately 0.75% in India with male and female ratio of 1:3 (Gabriel et al., 2003). The available treatment therapy includes steroidal and nonsteroidal antinflammatory drugs and immunosuppressant drugs like Methotrexate, Cyclosporine and D- Pencillamine, Ibuprofen, Sulindac etc. The adverse-effects like skin reaction, bone marrow depression and liver disorders limit their application. To minimize the adverse effects and cost of the drug, there is a need to move towards alternative therapies. Plants derived medicinal plants and natural agents will be a good alternative for the treatment of rheumatism at an affordable cost. Even today 80% of the world population depends on plant derived medicines for the primary health care because of least or no side effects (Babushetty & Sultanpur, 2012) . Scientists are also scrutinizing traditional plants to find complementary and alternative anti inflammatory drugs.

Here in, we reviewed the plants derived herbal therapy, and chemical components for rheumatism.

Abbreviations

AI- Abutilon indicum; AR- Asparagus racemosus; BP- Bauhinia purpurea ; CI- Calophyllum inophyllum; CP- Celastrus paniculatus; CM- Callicarpa macrophylla; CQ- Cissus quadranngularis; CF- Coleus forskohlii; CC- Commiphora caudate; CS- Costus speciosus; DS- Dalbergia sissoo; ME- Mimusops elengi.

Herbal Therapy for the Treatment of Rheumatism

From the time immemorial, herbal medicinal plants are used for treatment of various diseases and it will not be an overstatement that the use of medicinal plants is as old as the mankind (Tandon & Gupta, 2004). There are about 17,000 species of higher plants, of which approximately 8,000 species are considered medicinal for the maintenance of good health and used in different traditional medicinal systems such as the Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.

Moreover, because of an increasing reliability of the use of medicinal plants, less side effects and easy availability, the industrialized societies also lead to the development of several drugs and chemotherapeutic from these plants as well as from traditionally used rural herbal remedies by extraction of active constituents. Thus now the plants have been most widely investigated and analyzed source of medicinal compounds and chemical constituents of these plants produces a required physiological action on the body. The present review article uncovers different parts of herbal plants for their traditional and ethnobotanical uses, pharmacognostic and the chemical constituents responsible for antirheumatic activity. Thus make feasible the development of new drugs for the treatment of rheumatism.

Search Strategy Used

The search terms used were ‘arthritis’, ‘rheumatism’, ‘anti rheumatic activity’, ‘herbal drugs for treatment of rheumatism’, ‘inflammation’, ‘folk plants used for the treatment of pain and stiffness’. The current search and study was done by referring various text books, Journals containing peer review and research papers. The electronic databases used were Google, Science Direct and PubMed, which provide free access to Medline. Only published articles with different languages from 1950 to till date were used. Reference lists of articles were also cross checked for more elaborated study.

Results and Discussion

The review of literature related to present study was done in the period from April 2018 to till date. A total of 500 articles were reviewed for status of anti rheumatic plants. Out of which 330 articles were selected. Data collected from different articles were compiled to make the latest review article on rheumatism. Scientific and common name, family, extract and parts used, chemical constituents possessing anti rheumatic activity with their references are shown in Table 1. Followings are the examples of some traditional plants with geographical distribution, family, parts used, extract/extracts used, doses used and traditional uses and anti rheumatic activity studied since from 1950 to till date.

Abutilon indicum (AI) (Malvaceae)

AI is a medicinal shrub commonly known as “Atibala”, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical countries of Asia, America, Africa and Australia. It is a shrubby soft plant with purple tinge in color. Traditionally the leaves of AI are used as mouthwash, toothache, quick ulcer healing and for the treatment of inflammation of the bladder.

The folk practitioner uses the whole plant for rheumatism, immune stimulating effect, for curing blood dysentery, as digestive, laxative, astringent, analgesic and demulcent (Raja & Kailasam, 2015). The herb contains various constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, lactones, sesquiterpenes, aglycones, steroids, carbohydrates, phenols, tannins, glycosides, proteins, alkaline sulphates and amino acid. α- tocopherol and β-sitosterol are isolated from leaves of AI. Fruits contain flavanoids and alkaloids. Some flavonoids like quercetin, kaemferol, gossypetin, and cyanidin 3- glucoside also have been isolated from A. indicum (Sankara & Nair, 1972). Different parts of AI show various biological activities such as analgesic, immunomodulatory, anti arthritic and anti oxidant, anti bacterial activity, diuretic, anti diabetic activity, anti microbial, anticonvulsant, anthelmintic, antidiarrheal, wound healing, hepatoprotective, antitumor, anti-inflammatory (Saraswathi, Upadhyay, Venkatakrishnan, Meera, & Devi, 2011) and free radical scavenging activity. In vitro antirheumatic activity of AI was done by using inhibition of protein denaturation and effect of membrane stabilization by using two different concentrations of 100µg and 250µg per kg body weight and the results were compared with acetyl salicylic acid 250µg/ml. From the results it was concluded that AI possesses significant anti rheumatic activity (Tripathi, Chauhan, & Patel, 2012).

Asparagus racemosus (AR) Liliaceae

AR is commonly known as “Shatavari”, which is a shrub; found throughout tropical and subtropical parts of Australia, China, Sri Lanka and India, up to an altitude of 1500 m. AR is climbing plant having tuberous roots. Roots are silvery white or ash color, smooth when fresh and develop longitudinal wrinkles on getting dry. Roots are mainly used for the treatment of rheumatism. AR is used as aphrodisiac, diuretic and for male genital dysfunctions. AR is also used as antiseptic, brain tonic, for the treatment of cardiac disorders, hypertension and epilepsy. It is also used to prevent ageing, dyspepsia, tumor, nervous disorders and for reducing inflammation. In women it is used to treat habitual abortions, to give strength to the uterus and to prevent excess bleeding during menstruation. The main constituents of AR are steroidal saponins i.e. shatavarin I-IV and Shatavarin V and Shatavarin VI-X is reported in the roots of AR. Other steroidal saponins isolated are asparagin, immunoside, diosgenin, sitosterol and Racemoside A, B and C. Quercitin, rutin and flavonoids are isolated from fruits. AR reported to have activities such as anti inflammatory and antirheumatic (Mittal & Dixit, 2013) hypolipidemic and antioxidant, antidiarrheal, anti depressant, peptic ulcer healing property, anti cancer, antioxytocic, anti epileptic, antitussive. Antiarthritic activity of a hydro alcoholic extract of AR was studied by complete Freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis, method and the extracts showed significant anti rheumatic activity at the dose of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg body weight. Increase in body weight and a reduction in paw volume and total arthritic scores of both the hind legs was observed. Thus, it was clear that the drug provides pharmacological rationale for the traditional use of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (Mittal et al., 2013).

Bauhinia purpurea (BP) Leguminosae

BP is commonly known as “Orchid tree”, medium size caducous tree thriftily grown in India, also native to Southern Asia, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and China. Traditionally it is used in the treatment of rheumatism, fever, ulcer and stomach cancer (Zakaria et al., 2012). BP Flowers are used as a laxative; the bark is used for diarrhea, menstruation and for treatment of leucorrhea and roots is used as carminative. It is also used for convulsion, sepsis and dementia. Different chemical constituents present in BP are glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, phenolic compounds and phytosterols. Main constituents are flavones glycoside, 5, 6-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone 6-O-β-D-xylopyranoside, α- amyrin caprylate, a mixture of phytol, fatty esters, leutin and β-sitosterol, volatile oil, terpinene, limonene, myrcene, linalool, citronellyl acetate and a phenyl propanoid i.e. eugenol (Wassel, Abdel-Wahab, & Ammar, 1986). The study of BP reveals biological activities like anti arthritic (Sunil, Kumar, Gupta, & Singh, 2019), antinociceptive, analgesic and anti-inflammatory (Shreedhara et al., 2009), antimicrobial activity, antineoplastic, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antioxidant, anti malarial, anti fungal, antimicrobial, cytotoxic activity and wound healing activity (Asdaq, Rao, Ananth, Asad, & Kumar, 2010). A hydro alcoholic extract of the stem bark of BP at the doses of 50, 100 and 200mg/kg body weight showed a significant decrease in oxidative stress markers. Decrease in TNF alpha, interleukin-1 and an increase in the level of cytokine gives the confirmation of anti arthritic effect of (Sunil et al., 2019).

Calophyllum inophyllum (CI) Clusiaceae

CI is commonly called as “Indian laurel”, a mangrove species found in Southern coastal India, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar. It is widely distributed in tropical areas and can be cultivated in different kind of soil, clay and degraded soil. CI oil is used for the treatment of rheumatism, pain in joints and for wound healings. CI is also used to treat eye irritation and opthalmitis, diabetes, sunburn, psoriasis and also for hair problems. Heartwood of CI contain xanthones (buchanaxanthone, brasilixanthone), leaves contains tannins and triterpenes (canophyllals, canophyllol and canophyllic acid). CI also contain coumarin (Calcoumarin A, B and C), Arachidic acid and alkaloid (carpaine). Study of different extracts possesses antirheumatic (Perumal, Ekambaram, & Dhanam, 2017), antiinflammatory, sedative or anxiolytic effect, antiproliferative, antidepressant and nootropic, wound healing activity, antibacterial and analgesic, termeticidal, antiinflammatory and CNS depressant and antimicrobial activities. It is also used in the treatment of HIV and leukemia. Antirheumatic activity of CI stems bark and seeds were evaluated by Freund’s complete adjuvant induced arthritis in the doses of 250µg/kg body weight and the result obtained was nearly equal to the standard drug (Zakaria, Vijayasekarana, & Muhammad, 2014).

Celastrus paniculatus (CP) Celastraceae

Celastrus paniculatus is commonly known as “Malkangani”, distributed all over India, mainly in Maharashtra, Orissa and Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands on an altitude of 1800m. It climbs up to over 10m. The leaves are ovate or elliptic in shape, smooth in texture with dentate margin. Seeds are ellipsoid or ovoid, yellowish or reddish brown in color and grow inside the capsules. CP seeds are used traditionally for relieving the pain, swelling and for rheumatic pain. The main portion of the plant is the seed which has many therapeutic uses. It is mainly used for the treatment of brain related disorders, improve memory. The seed oil is used for hair care and for treatment of rheumatism, as sedative and to strengthen the intellectual power and in paralysis. CP is also used for the treatment of piles, leprosy, diarrhea and bacterial infections. It also acts as anti emetic, appetizer and aphrodisiac. Herbal vendors of South India used the seeds of CP in the ointment which is externally applied to the wound. Different Parts of CP after extraction and fractionation gives different active constituents that are sesquiterpene esters (Malkanguinol, malkangunin), Sesquiterpene alkaloids (Celapanin, celapanigin), Alkaloids (Celastrine, paniculatine), fatty acids (Oleic acid, palmittic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid, crystalline substance, tetracasanol and sterol (Gamlath, Gunatilaka, Tezuka, Kikuchi, & Balasubramaniam, 1990). The CP also contains carbohydrates, saturated and mono and polyunsaturated fatty acid and vitamin C and tannins. Different pharmacological activities are antirheumatic (Bhanumathy, Harish, Shivaprasad, & Sushma, 2010), antinociceptive, antiepileptic, antifungal, Nootropic activity, sedation and convulsion, antimalarial activity, antispermatogenic effect, anti anxiety, hypolipidemic and anti atherosclerotic effect and antioxidant. Petroleum ether fraction of Celastrus paniculatus at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, restore the decrease level of superoxide dismutase, glutathione and catalase, thus produce significant anti arthritic activity (Gatinode, Raiker, Shroff, & Patel, 1957).

Callicarpa macrophylla (CM) Verbenaceae

Callicarpa macrophylla is commonly known as “Priyangu”, extensively used in many traditional medicinal systems such a Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy system. It is distributed across India, China, Myanmar, and Nepal. In India it is widely distributed in Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura up to an altitude of 1800 m. CM leaves are 12.5-23 cm long, ovate or lanceolate in shape with round base. Petioles are 6-13mm long. Stems and branches have covering of stellate hairs on it. The seeds are used in the treatment of leprosy and as diuretic. Seed paste is used in treating oral ulcer. The bark of CM is used in rheumatism and gonorrhea. The plant is also used in fever, diarrhea, dysentery, headache, ulcer and diabetes. Leaf juice is used in burning sensation of stomach and to stop bleeding. Leaves are used in gout and rheumatism. Different active chemical constituents are present in different parts of CM are flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, diterpenoids (16α, 17- isopropylideno-3-oxo-phyllocladane), terpenes, diterpenes, fatty acid, phenyl propanoids and phytosterols. The leaves contain flavonoids such as luteolin and apigenin, Pentacyclic triterpenid- ursolic acid and α-amyrin and Phytosterols such as β- sitosterol and dacusterol. Seeds and roots contain diterpenes such as calliterpenone, calliterpenone monoacetate and calliterpenone-17-acetate (Fujita, Ochiai, Ichida, Chatterjee, & Deshmukh, 1950). The bark contains beutilinic acid and tricosanoic acid. Reported pharmacological activities of CM are antiinflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, hypoglycemic effect, wound healing activity, immunomodulatory and antioxidant activity. In vitro activity of flower of ethanol extract of CM was studied by using inhibition of protein denaturation and human red blood cell membrane stabilization method. The results obtained from the method used indicate that CM flower exhibit anti arthritic activity.

Cissus quadranngularis (CQ) Vitaceae

Cissus quadranngularis is commonly known as “Hadjod” (Bone Setter) in India because of its fracture healing properties. It is a climbing herb, found throughout India, Asia, Africa, Thailand, and Srilanka, Malaysia and West Africa. It can be cultivated on a plain coastal area or wasteland at an altitude of 500m. The shrub is smooth, glabrous, buff color with a green tinge. It is one seed plant, with simple leaves having ovate shape and dentate margin. In India it is widely used in Tamilnadu and Kerala. In Tamilnadu it is used for improving immunity and in Kerala its paste is used over fractured joints. In southern India, it is used to strengthen the bone and to repair the damage of epithelial cells due to an injury. In Ayurveda CQ is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (Bah, Jäger, Adsersen, Diallo, & Paulsen, 2007). Leaves and young shoots are used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The juice of the stem is used in the treatment of inflammation of the ear and to control the bleeding of the nose. Root powder is used in constipation and gout. Various chemical constituents are isolated from different extracts of CQ are flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, triterpenes- alpha and beta amyrin, β-carotene and β-sitosterol. Stiblene and quadrangularins A, B and C, steroids, phenols, tannins, vitamin A and Gallic acid derivatives are also found. Methyl gallate, myricetin, daidzein, geniotein and daucosterol also have been also isolated from CQ (Jain & Kohli, 2015). The stem extract contains phosphorous and calcium. Various medicinal activities are analgesic and anti inflammatory, antipyretic, anti rheumatic (Bhujade & Talmale, 2015), bone healing activity, anti ulcer, cytoprotective, anti epileptic and muscle relaxant activity, antioxidant and anti microbial and anti hemorrhoid activities. Anti arthritic activity was studied by using acetone extract of CQ at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight by using standard drug Cecocoxib and methotrexate. After analyzing histopathological section and radiography it was clear that the acetone extract of CQ reduces pain and inflammation of joints (Bhujade et al., 2015).

Coleus forskohlii (CF) Lamiaceae

Coleus forskohlii is commonly known as “Pathar Chur” in Hindi, is a plant of Indian origin, distributed in the sub tropical Himalaya from Garhwal to Nepal at an altitude of 2500 m above mean sea level and also in Srilanka and Thailand. CF is used as Ayurvedic medicine from the time immortal for the treatment of various ailments like cardiovascular diseases, CNS disorders and GIT and respiratory disorders (Ammon & Muller, 1985). CF is also used traditionally for treatment of eye disorders, cancer, asthma, insomnia, psoriasis, inflammation and hypothermia. Different chemical active constituents are isolated from CF of which chief active constituent is forskohlin (Ammon et al., 1985). The other constituents present is volatile oils, diterpenoids and colonels. An ethanol extract of whole plant of CF contains two labdane diterpene glycosides i.e. forskoditerpenoside A and B and sesquiterpenes. Various Clinical activities of different extracts of CF reported are anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticataract, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti hypertensive, antispasmodic, bronchodilator and antiallergic. CF is also reported to have used in cardiovascular disorders, reducing intraocular pressure of eye, thyroid cell metabolism and as an antiobesity drug. Methanolic and aqueous shoot extract of CF at the dose of 200µg/ml possesses in vitro antioxidant and anti inflammatory activity, when tested by DPPH (2,2-diyphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin) anti-denaturation and HRBC Membrane (Human Rell Blood Cell Membrane) stabilization method (Menon & Latha, 2011).

Commiphora caudata (CC) Burseraceae

Commiphora caudata is commonly called as “Hill mango”. CC is a medium size, aromatic tree found in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, West Bengal, Karnataka and in Srilanka. CC leaves are ovate, glabrous with uneven base. Folk Practitioner uses the CC leaves and gum resin for stomach diseases and fruits for the healing of injuries. Paste of leaves of CC is used for the treatment of inflammation at Koothupapampu in Kerala. The CC is also used in the treatment of ulcer, diarrhoea, diabetes, arthritis, sciatica, urinary retention, and obesity. Chemical studies show the presence of flavonoids, phenols, essential oil (β-pinene, verbenone, capric acid, carveol, caryophyllene and linalool acetate. Other constituents are linoleic acid (7(Z),10(Z)-Hexadecadienoic acid, cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, heptacosane, pentacosane, methyl arachidate, triterpenoid (squalene), resin and gum. Medicinal activities of the CC are antirheumatic, antihyperlipidemic, anti inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, anti inflammatory and antilipdperoxidation, learning and memory enhancing activity and larvicidal. Antirheumatic activity was done with ethanolic extract of Commiphora caudata at the dose of 200 and 400mg/kg body weight in rats, which produce reduction in paw volume and increase in red blood cells and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and decrease in white blood cells. Thus confirm the anti rheumatic potential of CC (Eggadi, Pashikanti, Kulundaivelu, Jupalli, & Sheshagiri, 2014).

Costus speciosus (CS) Costaceae

Costus speciosus is commonly known as “Keukand”, Indian ornamental perennial herb, found in Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Ahmednagar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and in Peninsular India. It grows up to a height of 2.7m, having leaves with lanceolate shape and flowers in clusters. The juice of the leaf and rhizome is used in Kerala and Assam for the treatment of diabetes. CS is also used traditionally for treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and leprosy and asthma. Young stems are used in the treatment of diarrhoea and as astringent, aphrodisiac, expectorant, anthelmintic, purifying and detoxifying agent and for abortion. The major constituent present in CS rhizome is diosgenin, which is a steroidal sapogenin. Other constituents present are dioscin, betasitosterol tigogenin and gracillin. CS rhizome also contains essential oil; the main constituents of the oil are pinocarveol, cineole, carvacrol. From the rhizomes Methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2E propentone was also isolated. The seed contains tocopherol, glucose, galactose and rhamnose. The roots of this plant also contain dioscin, gracillin, β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside and pro sapogenins A and B. Root also contains 31- norcycloartanone, cycloartanol, cycloaudenol and cycloarteno. CS has been claimed to use as antirheumatic, antimicrobial, anti hypercholesterelemic, anti inflammatory, antioxidant and antiangiogenic activity, antioxidant, antihyperlipdemic, anti depressant and in neuropharmacological evaluation. Aerial part of CS possesses antiarthritic activity at the doses of 400 and 800mg/kg body weight by suppressing the swelling of paw in both acute and chronic phases. The suppression of inflammation may be due to the presence of alkaloids and flavonoids in CS (Srivastava et al., 2012).

Dalbergia sissoo (DS) Fabaceae

Dabergia sissoo is commonly known as “Shisham”, a medium to large tree, 25m in height and 2-3m in diameter (Asif & Kumar, 2011). Leaves are 15cm long with the fine pointed tip. DS is found throughout India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Persia, Iraq and Kenya. Shisham is used by folk practitioners for treatment of several ailments. Extract of DS bark is used to treat inflammation of piles and sciatica. DS is also used in burning sensation of stomach, digestive disorders, in scabies, to treat colorectal cancer and jaundice. Aerial parts are used to treat sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis, gonorrhea and as expectorant. The flower oil is used for skin diseases like Leucoderma and ulcer and flower extract is used as a blood purifier and immune modifying agent. Extract of leaves is used to treat dandruff, to strengthen the hair and for treatment of eye and nose diseases. The leaf extract is also used as analgesic, antipyretic, antidiabetic and antioxidant. DS is also used as a stimulant, expectorant and astringent.The active chemical constituents isolated from the leaves of DS are formic acid, cyclobutanol and pentanal. Chalcone, polysaccharides containing glucuronic acid are also found from the leaves of DS. Fatty acids isolated from DS are β-sitosterol, stigmaterol, β-amyrin and isoflavonoid glycosides. Heart wood contains arachidic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid and Myristic acid. DS is reported to have analgesic and anti inflammatory (Sidhana, Saini, & Dahiya, 2012), antinociceptive, anticoagulant activity, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antiulcer and antidiarrheal activities. Antiarthritic activity of ethanolic extract of Dalbergia sissoo was studied by cotton pellet granuloma and inhibition of protein denaturation at the doses of 200 400, 800 and 1000µg/ml, which shows significant anti arthritic effect as compared to control drug dexamethasone.

Mimusops elengi (ME) Sapotaceae

Mimusops elengi is commonly known as “Bakul”, cultivated as an ornamental tree because of its flowers. The plant grows up to 16m in height. ME is found in India, Burma, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia. Leaves are 6.3-10 in length and 3.2 -5 cm in width, elliptic in shape with acute or round base. Kalidas in his Sanskrit literature included ME flower as a symbol of Love and beauty. Mimusops elengi is used from the ancient time to till now due to the large number of its therapeutic properties. Literature survey makes it clear that in ancient civilization, flowers of ME were the main diet of sages, hermits and people. In Ayurveda, taila prepared from the fruits of ME are used for strengthening the gum and teeth. In Unani medicines the bark is used for urinary diseases in males. Bark decoction is used to treat fever, throat and stomach pain. Flowers are used to treat kidney and bladder stones and for cardiac disorders. Roots are used for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, to increase the flow of urine and good for gonorrhea. Phytochemical constituents present in ME are Beutilinic acid, ursolic acid, lupeol gum, tannis, wax and starch. Quercitol, β- sitosterol, mimusops and mimusopic acid, anthraqunone and cardiac glycosides such as mimusopside A and B, alkaloids like hentriacontane, saponins (mimusin), pentacyclic triterpens -mimusopgenone and mimugenone are also present. Two α- glucosidase inhibitors, 3β-hydroxy-12-ursene-28-oic acid and 3β-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)-12-ursen-28-oic acid were found from the methanolic extracts of ME. ME has high potential in wound healing activity (Aleti, Reddy, Sneha, & Suvarchala, 2015), antibacterial, anti inflammatory (Khatri, Manjulakonka, & Juvekar, 2014), antimicrobial, In vitro antioxidant, antiurolithiatic, Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity (Koti et al., 2010), anticonvulsant, anthelmintic, antifungal, antiulcer, cognitive enhancing activity, diuretic, hepatoprotective and cytotoxic activity.

Many diseases, modifying anti rheumatic and non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs like methotrexate, cyclosporine and D- Pencillamine, ibuprofen, sulindac and indomethacin are available in the market for the treatment of rheumatism. Rheumatism can be controlled by these drugs to a certain extent, but these drugs also have severe side effects. These side effects can range from mild rashes, nausea and vomiting to fatal, bacterial, fungal or viral infections like infection of herpes zoster or hepatitis B or C. Even rituxicmab can cause congestive heart failure and central nervous system diseases. So there is a need to explore alternative methods, particularly traditional medicines, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, this review article is prepared to collect and compile data of herbal medicinal plants which shows beneficial effects on rheumatoid arthritis by controlling the level of pro inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8, IL-6, Il-2 and TNF-α and thus inhibits inflammatory response with negligible side effects. In this review article, we have discussed the traditional plants with description of family, extracts, traditional uses and doses used for reporting antirheumatic activity.

Conclusions

The data discussed in this review show a latest data having good potential for anti rheumatic activity. Many medicinal plants discussed in the review used traditionally for rheumatism have not been explored for anti rheumatic activity yet. The major chemical constituents present in the herbal medicinal plants mentioned in review having good anti rheumatic activity can be explored further to investigate the lead compounds for more precision and lesser adverse effects. In some plants reported activity is done on whole plant so there is need to evaluate the parts responsible for the anti rheumatism activity.