Top 4 Herbs that Act as Anti Arthritis (With Diagram)

This article throws light upon the top four herbs that act as anti-arthritis. The herbs are: 1. Curcuma Longa 2. Zingiber Officinale 3. Boswellia Sps 4. Uncaria Sps.

Anti Arthritis Herb # 1. Curcuma Longa:

Curcuma longa L. belongs to Zingiberaceae, com­monly referred as turmeric is a perennial plant and being widely cultivated in Asiatic countries main­ly in India and China.

In Indian language it is com­monly called as “Haldi”. Some species including Curcuma longa can be distinguished and identi­fied using single nucleotide polymorphism analy­sis of trnK gene. The rhizome of this plant is widely used in Indian traditional system of medicine.

Other than medicine it is also used as food additive (spice), preservative and dye. Its biological activity, chemistry, medical appli­cations etc. has been reviewed from time to time.

Biologically active substanc­es in turmeric rhizome include Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) and its derivatives. It has been stud­ied since long time for its anti-arthritic effect and to understand its mech­anism.

Recently it has been reported that curcumin inhibits IL-1β (3 induced PGE₂ formation by inhibit­ing the expression of m PGES-1 (Prostaglandin E synthase 1) that is mediated by suppression of EGR- 1 expression as well as NF-kB and JNK V2.

Curcumin has also been studied for its effect on cytokine production by human peripheral blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages. In this studies it was found that curcumin inhibited the production of IL-8, MIP-1 ∝, MCP-1, IL-1 p and TNF-∝ by 4(3 phorbor 12(3- myristate- 13 ∝ acetate (PMA) or lipopolysaccharide stimu­lated monocytes and alveolar macrophages.

Anti Arthritis Herb # 2. Zingiber Officinale:

Zingiber officinale, the type genus of Zingiberaceae family, commonly reffered to as gingers, is one of the most common constituents of diets worldwide.

The rhizome of Z.officinale has been used in Indi­an ayurvedic medicine and traditional sino-japaneese medicine thousands of years to treat inflam­matory and rheumatic disease. It has also been reported for its antioxidant, antiseptic, and carmi­native properties.

The chief constiuent of ginger includes volatile oils, oleoresins (gingerols), (β-carotenecapsaicin, caffeic acid and curcumin.

The constituents of ginger hydroxy-alcoxy-phenyl compounds inhibits chondrocytes and synviocytes TNF-a expression, another constituent [6] -gin- gerol inhibited LPS -induced I NOS expression and production of NO and other RNS Species in macrophages and blocked peroxynitrite- induced oxidation and nitration reaction, both invitro.

Anti Arthritis Herb # 3. Boswellia Sps:

The genus Boswellia belonging to family Burseraceae, with its anti-arthritic properties and others are well documented in alternative medicine lit­erature.

Four species namely Boswellia serrata in India, Boswellia carterii in East Africa and China, Boswellia frereana in Somalia, and Boswellia sac­ra in Arabia are used to obtain the resins and gums because of its medicinal properties. The gum res­ins are collectively known as Guggals.

In Ayurvedic medicine system of India, guggal has been successfully used for the treatment of inflam­matory poly-arthritis and other forms of rheuma­tism. It has also been screened for immunostimulant activity and anti­inflammatory properties and the mechanism be­hind it.

Ethonalic extract of Boswellia carterii dissolved in sesame oil exerted a dose dependence inhibitory effect on in vitro IFN-y and IL-2 production by splenocytes from B₆ DBA/2 and B₆ D2F1 hybrid mice. Human rheu­matoid arthritis has a strong immune mediated component and is marked by increase activated levels of TH1 cells and their cytokines, IL-2 and IFN-y.

Anti Arthritis Herb # 4. Uncaria Sps:

Two species namely Uncaria tomentosa and Un­caria guianensis are well known for its antiarthritic properties. U. tomentosa is a Peruvian vine, also known as cats claw has been used by ethnic peo­ple to treat immunologic disorders. In Traditional medicine system, the decoctions of cat’s claw bark are prescribed for the treatment of arthritis, bursi­tis, stomach disorders and chronic fatigue syn­drome.

The chemical composition of the aqueous extract of U. tomentosa vine includes oxindoleal-kaloids, tannins, quinolic acids, glycosides, fla­vonoids and steroids. The root contains pentacyclic oxindoles.