Cardiovascular Diseases and Role of Medicinal Plants as a Re-Emerging Health Aid

Cardiovascular disorders like heart failure, hypertension, myocardial infraction, ventricular fibrillation and atrial fibrillation are affecting millions of people every year. Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) and reactive nitrogen metabolites (RNMs) play major role in damaging basic bio-molecules (protein, DNA) ultimately causing cardiovascular disorders, ageing etc. Although human endogenous anti-oxidants antagonize the damaging effect of reactive species but many a times they are not sufficient in neutralizing them. Demand of natural products and that too from plants as a health supplement is increasing day by day in all parts of the world. Cardiac glycosides especially cardenolides and its congeners have shown to be effective in variety of heart ailments. Many others plants like Berberis aristata, Polygonatum sibricum¸ Nigella sativa and groups of compounds like flavonoids have been explored as wonderful medicines for heart disorders. The current review centers on brief detail of plants and their active compounds in association with cardiovascular diseases. Further studies are needed for improving the clinical indications and the efficiency of these plants and compounds.