Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating autoimmune disease
manifested by progressive articular and extra-articular disabilities. Pieces of evidence
hint that tremendous research efforts have increased the likelihood of attaining a better
treatment goal. However, the associated risks, drug failures, and high costs of the
available drugs or regimens still limit their widespread use. Even though natural
products are rarely considered for lead identification, which is counterintuitive to
traditional drug development, natural products occupy a large chemical space, unlike
synthetic screening methods. Although skepticism towards the use of natural products
continues, the growing attention of researchers towards the diverse flora has led a
plethora of molecules and therapies to reach clinical trial settings. This chapter sheds
light on the challenges in the development of plant-derived compounds or therapies for
the management of RA. It discusses the plant-derived products (including diet-based
therapies) undergoing clinical development for the treatment of RA.