Review Article

[Retracted] Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases with Plant Phytochemicals: A Review

Table 2

Mechanism of action of some medicinal plants for cardiovascular disease treatments.

PlantPhytoconstituentsMechanism of actionReference

Camellia sinensisPolyphenols, amino acids, theanine, proanthocyanins, caffeine, catechin, epicatechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, and gallocatechin gallateIt prevents human vascular endothelial cells from oxidative stress.[169]
(i) Through activating autophagy through the mTOR pathway by delaying apoptosis upon endoplasmic reticulum stress
(ii) Increases the expression levels of proteins
 Relates to autophagy and connexin in neonatal cardiomyocytes with high glucose by restoring AMPK activity
(iii) Inhibitions of autophagy
 By preserving connexin expression in cells stimulated by high glucose levels

Curcuma longaFat-soluble aromatic phytoextract that obtained from ginger plant rhizome and curcuminControls hypertensive effects[170]
(i) By lowering blood pressure, it can increase myocardial trophic blood flow.
(ii) By reducing the viscosity of blood and thrombosis formation through hindering the synthesis of thromboxane A2 (TXA2)
Prevents platelet activation and aggregation
(i) By regulating calcium signals
Inhibiting the activation of NF-κB, AKT, and ERK
(i) By protecting and activating vascular endothelial cells from incapacitation, which reduces arterial sclerosis, thrombosis, and abnormal blood pressure

Digitalis lanataSteroid glycosides and digoxinProtects cardiomyocytes[20]
(i) By opening of the KATP channel, increase secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide, cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress, and apoptosis
Protective in macrophages and monocytes
(i) By estrogen receptor activation, NOS-NO signalling pathway inhibition, and nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α activation
Exerts protective therapeutic effects
(i) By inhibiting, modulating, and regulating the expression of contractile and structural proteins and glycoproteins
(ii) By regulating the calcium levels and improving the functioning of mitochondria

Gentiana spp.Gentiopicroside, swertiamarin, sweroside, isogentisin, bellidifolin, mangiferin, isoorientin, isovitexin, gentiana scabra, and gentiana trifloraPrevents platelet activation[171]
(i) By inhibiting phosphorylation of phospholipase C(PLC)2-PKC cascade and the MAPK pathway so that amarogentin may offer therapeutic potential for treating thromboembolic disorders
Blood pressure lowering
(i) Through inhibition of Ca2+ ingress and release from intracellular stores
Prevents and treats atherosclerosis
(i) Through inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation
Exhibits anticoagulant activity
(i) An endothelium-independent vasodilator activity in aortic rings precontracted by norepinephrine a marked depression of the contracturant response by KCl, caffeine, and norepinephrine

Gongronema latifoliumPhenolic compounds, saponins, triterpenes, branched glycosylated, oleanane saponins, furostane saponin, rutin, kaempferol, and iridoid ebulosideLowering blood pressure[172]
(i) By inhibiting cardiac contraction
(ii) By regulating rate of heart beat
(iii) By improving cardiac output with the ultimate decrease in arterial blood pressure
(iv) Control raised mean arterial pressure and heart rate
(v) By blocking calcium ion channel

Gynostemma spp.Dammarane-type saponins and gypenosidesProtection of embryonic cardiomyocytes H9c2 from I/R injuries[150]
(i) By downregulating the production of intracellular ROS and recovering mitochondrial membrane potential to normal levels
(ii) By the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway
Reduction of cell apoptosis from I/R stimulus
(i) By decreasing the expression of apoptotic proteins such as bax and caspase-3/-9
(ii) Blocking of the homologous protein pathway
(iii) By inhibiting the apoptosis caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress

Moringa oleiferaFlavonoids, glucomoringin, β-sitosterol, sulphur-containing compounds niazimin-A, niaziminin-B, and niazicin-ATargets angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)[173]
(i) Through antihypertensive activity
(ii) Treats obesity and its cardioprotective effects
(iii) Regulates the cardiac induced by a high-fat diet feeding
(iv) Manages obesity and its related heart complications

Nigella sativaAlkaloids, flavonoids, and thymoquinonePrevents cell injuries[174]
(i) By reducing the free radical formation
(ii) By scavenging free radical species from blood

Oncocalyx glabratusFlavones and oncoglabrinol CProtection of endothelial cells[175]
(i) By controlling oxidative stress and apoptosis
(ii) By modulating hepatic CYP3A4 activity

Silymarin marianumFlavonoids, flavonolignans, quercetin, taxifolin, eriodyctiol, silibinin, and chrysoeriolControls inflammation[176178]
(i) Activates the Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway
(ii) Inhibits the NF-Κb/NLRP3 signalling pathway
Reduces cardiomyocytes
(i) By reducing doxorubicin and ameliorated inflammation and oxidative stress by activating PPAR-γ
(ii) By regulating antioxidant activity in oxidative stress-induced cardiovascular diseases
Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
(i) Improving the glycemic index and lipid profile significantly