Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which inflammation and oxidative stress play a key role in its pathophysiology. Complementary therapies along with medications may be effective in the control of RA. Propolis is a natural substance extracted from beehives, which have confirmed anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The present study aimed to review the possible effects of propolis on inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid profile in patients with RA. English articles in online databases such as PubMed‑Medline, AMED, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched. Pieces of evidence show that supplementation with propolis may have therapeutic effects on RA patients. Due to increased inflammation and oxidative stress in the affected joints of RA patients, propolis could inhibit the inflammatory cascades by inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B pathway and reducing reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and interleukin‐17 by increasing some antioxidants. Therefore, inflammation and pain reduce, helping improve and control RA in patients. Further investigations are required with larger sample sizes and different doses of propolis to demonstrate the definite effects of propolis on various aspects of RA.

Berberine (BBR) exhibits significant anti-diabetic effects by enhancing insulin sensitivity, promoting glycolysis, and inhibiting gluconeogenesis. It also shows promise in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by reducing hepatic fat content and improving liver enzyme levels, lipid profiles, and insulin sensitivity. Studies show that BBR inhibits tumor growth, metastasis, and cell proliferation while inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Additionally, it enhances autophagy, regulates gut microbiota, and boosts the effectiveness of other anti-tumor drugs. Clinical trials indicate that BBR reduces the recurrence of colorectal adenomas and offers radioprotective benefits, although mild side effects such as constipation have been noted. Additionally, BBR's cardiovascular benefits include lowering cholesterol, improving lipid metabolism, and reducing inflammation, thus potentially attenuating the progression of atherosclerosis. Numerous randomized clinical trials have demonstrated BBR's therapeutic efficacy, suggesting that it may be a safe and useful adjuvant treatment for diabetes, NAFLD, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, we need to acknowledge limitations like low bioavailability and trial heterogeneity, which could affect how well the findings apply more broadly. Notwithstanding these encouraging results, more investigation is required to develop uniform treatment regimens and to completely comprehend the processes underlying the benefits of BBR.