Medicinal plants and their potential use in the treatment of rheumatic diseases

Abstract In the present chapter the antiinflammatory and antiarthritic effects of extracts, fractions, and/or isolated compounds from several medicinal plants is reviewed, including Boswellia serrata Roxb. (Shallaki), Curcuma longa Linn. (turmeric), Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (cinnamon), Echinodorus grandiflorus (Cham. & Schltdl.) Micheli. (Chapeu-de-couro), Colchicum luteum Baker (Suranjan-Talkh), Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (Thunder God Vine), Andrographis paniculata (Burm. fil.) Nees (creat or green chiretta), and Nigella sativa L. (black caraway). The revision covers the in vitro and in vivo preclinical data reported to date for the aforementioned species, in addition to clinical trials, antiinflammatory mechanisms of action, and toxicological studies, when available.