Astragaloside IV is a primary active component extracted from Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. While Astragalus has a long history of traditional use for boosting immunity and reducing inflammation, the specific use of astragaloside IV for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is primarily supported by preclinical scientific research rather than traditional texts.

Several animal and in vitro studies have explored the effects of astragaloside IV on RA. These studies indicate that astragaloside IV may reduce inflammation through the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathways. For example, in collagen-induced arthritis models in rodents, astragaloside IV has been shown to alleviate joint swelling, reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, and decrease levels of inflammatory mediators.

Despite these promising preclinical results, high-quality clinical trials in humans are lacking. There is insufficient evidence from controlled human studies to confirm its efficacy or safety for RA management. Thus, the current scientific support is limited to experimental models, and its use in clinical practice for RA cannot be robustly recommended at this time.