Total sesquiterpene lactones prepared from Inula helenium L. has potentials in prevention and therapy of rheumatoid arthritis

Total sesquiterpene lactones from Inula helenium L. (TSL-IHL) could effectively inhibit the activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways, suppress the inflammatory gene expressions in activated synovial fibroblasts and RAW 264.7 cells, and the oral treatment with TSL-IHL alleviated the paw swelling and arthritic severity in both AA and CIA rat arthritis models which indicated its therapeutic potential for rheumatoid arthritis.348