Chapter 14 - Bioactive plant molecules, sources, and mechanisms of action in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are leading causes of global morbidity, mortality, and healthcare spending. The current goal of the United Nations is a 25% reduction in deaths owing to noncommunicable diseases such as CVDs by 2025. The economic costs of contemporary therapeutic approaches to reduce the major CVD risk factors of hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension cannot be sustained on a global scale. Novel sources of bioactive molecules for use in low-cost therapies will be essential to accomplish this goal. In this chapter, we review the natural products containing bioactivities for which compelling evidence of efficacy in ameliorating hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension has been obtained in the laboratory or clinical setting. The pathophysiological basis of hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension and current synthetic drug therapies are reviewed, and the major sources and candidate bioactive molecules as well as their postulated mechanism(s) of action are discussed.