Bioactive lead compounds and molecular targets for the treatment of heart diseases

Abstract

Heart diseases are the major reasons for mortality and disability around the world. One of the leading causes of heart diseases is the chronic proatherogenic inflammation that may lead to further acute complications. Epidemiological studies have shown a marked association between hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress, and heart diseases. In recent decades, alternative and complementary medicines, especially herbal medicine and nutraceuticals, have been excessively evaluated for treating various heart diseases. Many researches have studied the impact of the strong antioxidant activities of some medicinal plants on serum lipid level and consequently on the development of atherosclerosis and ischemia. For instance, natural products such as resveratrol, berberine, and curcumin, which are proved to possess antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and autophagy-modulating activities, are reported to be potential in treating heart diseases. This chapter provided an overview about the importance of natural products in modern medicine as a source of novel lead compounds that can be beneficial in treating heart disease through acting on different molecular targets.