Mitochondrial pathways in rheumatoid arthritis: Therapeutic roles of traditional Chinese medicine and natural products.

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent synovial inflammation, cartilage destruction and systemic complications. Mitochondrial dysfunction has emerged as a critical contributor to RA pathogenesis by disrupting apoptosis regulation, immune signaling and redox balance, thereby promoting immune cell activation and joint damage. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and natural products offer unique therapeutic advantages due to their multi-component, multi-target properties, particularly in restoring mitochondrial homeostasis. However, a comprehensive synthesis of their mitochondrial-targeted mechanisms in RA remains lacking.

PURPOSE: This study aims to elucidate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in RA progression and systematically summarize the therapeutic mechanisms and potential of TCM and natural products targeting mitochondrial pathways.

METHODS

A systematic literature search (2005-2025) was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar with keywords related to mitochondrial dysfunction, RA and TCM/natural products. Studies included in vitro, in vivo and clinical evidence of mitochondrial-targeting compounds.

RESULTS

A total of 128 studies were summarized from an initial pool of 297 articles. Findings indicate that TCM and natural compounds improve RA outcomes by modulating oxidative stress, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, restoring mitochondrial dynamics, enhancing mitophagy and regulating immune responses.

CONCLUSION

TCM and natural products demonstrate significant promise in restoring mitochondrial function and alleviating RA symptoms through multi-targeted pathways. Future research should focus on pharmacokinetics, standardization of formulations and biomarker-driven clinical trials to enhance translational potential and validate therapeutic efficacy.