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.