Antioxidant Food Components for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases: Effects, Mechanisms, and Clinical Studies

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have gained increasing attention because of their high prevalence and mortality worldwide. Epidemiological studies revealed that intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cereals could reduce the risk of CVDs, and their antioxidants are considered as the main contributors. Moreover, experimental studies showed that some antioxidant natural products and their bioactive compounds exerted beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, anthocyanins, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, rutin, and puerarin. The mechanisms of action mainly included reducing blood pressure, improving lipid profile, ameliorating oxidative stress, mitigating inflammation, and regulating gut microbiota. Furthermore, clinical trials confirmed the cardiovascular-protective effect of some antioxidant natural products, such as soursop, beetroot, garlic, almond, and green tea. In this review, we summarized the effects of some antioxidant natural products and their bioactive compounds on CVDs based on the epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies, with special attention paid to the relevant mechanisms and clinical trials.

Ginger: A complementary approach for management of cardiovascular diseases

“…Given the evidence of considerable anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of ginger and its components, this plant and its bioactive components could be valuable therapeutic or complementary medicine candidates for CVD management (Figure 1) (Tables 1 and 2). 119 Further clinical trials in humans are encouraged to determine the efficacy of ginger and its components in various types of CVD, and to more thoroughly investigate its potential beneficial or adverse effects, particularly when they are consumed over a sufficient period of time. Considering its safety record, this herbal product is likely to be a valuable dietary supplement in the management of CVD (Figure 2) and a potential source of new molecules for an array of CVD conditions.…”

Upregulation of Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier 2 and Protein SUMOylation as a Cardioprotective Mechanism Against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

“…Puerarin is a major bioactive isoflavone from Chinese herbal medicine Radix Puerariae , well-documented for therapeutic effects against cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, neurological diseases and endocrinological diseases ( Zhang et al, 2018 ; Zhou et al, 2021 ). Puerarin exhibits antioxidant activity for scavenging reactive oxygen radicals and prevents inflammation and apoptosis ( Wenjun et al, 2015 ).…”

Phytochemicals as an Alternative or Integrative Option, in Conjunction with Conventional Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…Although herbal medicines are still being used extensively around the world, there persists a vast lag in the acceptance of their validity by the scientific and medical community due to the lack of scientific evidence. Further study into these compounds is much needed to help bridge the current gap between pre-clinical research and clinical application, as plants are rich in secondary metabolites that have been previously shown to be potent chemotherapeutic and/or chemopreventive agents used for numerous chronic cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and neoplastic diseases [26][27][28]. Although there is promising evidence, many phytochemicals lack the proper concrete scientific soundness to be able to be safely carried on into further levels of research, simply because they currently have not been studied enough.…”