Common phyto-remedies used against cardiovascular diseases and their potential to induce adverse events in cardiovascular patients

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death globally. In addition to conventional medications, a plethora of herbal products continue to offer therapeutic alternatives to patients to assuage suffering. Nonetheless, concomitant administration of herbs and conventional medicine are not always safe which could mimic, oppose or magnify the effect of the latter leading to serious herb-drug interactions, most of which escape pharmacovigilance. The paucity of relevant information to clinicians in relation to herb-drug interactions, the inadequacy of evidence-based knowledge coupled with the lack of mechanistic facts poses a momentous threat to meet desired therapeutic outcomes in CVD patients. In this endeavor, key scientific databases have been explored to review common herbal products that might interfere clinically with conventional drugs used for CVDs and related complications. Ten common medicinal plants have been included and representative case reports whereby herbal products are thought to be inducers of adverse events are also discussed. It is anticipated that the present review will be a pinnacle of evidence and hence serve as an up-to-date fundamental repertoire of recent scientific findings to promote better understanding of adverse herb-drug events amongst clinicians and enhance rapport between clinicians and patients for subsequent counseling. Indeed, acknowledging the risks attributed to herb-drug interactions is fundamental in the management of CVDs and related implications which should not be underestimated or considered as trivial by both health-care professionals and herbal consumers.

Diuretic activity of the aqueous crude extract and hot tea infusion of <em>Moringa stenopetala </em>(Baker f.) Cufod. leaves in rats

“…Herbs and natural plant products are particularly gaining popularity for the management of cardiovascular diseases and associated disorders 20. The soaring interest in traditional medicine is attributed to the failure of modern medicine to alleviate many chronic illnesses.…”

“… 19 Herbs and natural plant products are particularly gaining popularity for the management of cardiovascular diseases and associated disorders. 20 The soaring interest in traditional medicine is attributed to the failure of modern medicine to alleviate many chronic illnesses. M. stenopetala , a plant highly venerated for its nutritional values and medicinal properties, 21 is used in the management of hypertensive and kidney-related disorders.…”

Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Drug–Drug and Drug–Dietary Supplement Interactions among Patients Admitted for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Greece

“…It is estimated that approximately 3–5% of DDIs among CVD patients in hospital units are serious while 60–70% of them are of major clinical significance and most of them can result in ADRs [ 17 , 18 ]. Regarding DS usage, several studies have demonstrated that up to 60% of CVD patients may use DSs in their daily diets to promote their well-being without informing their healthcare providers, putting themselves at risk of a significant DDSI due to concurrent administration of interacting medications [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Concerning Greece, except for prescriptions dispensed in pharmacies [ 22 ], there are no data available from clinical studies about potential DDIs during hospitalization (which requires an increased number of medications to be administered) as well as the use of DSs and their potential drug interactions.…”

Current Pharmacological Status of Cardioprotective Plants Against Isoproterenol Induced Myocardial Infarction

“…Fathima and Murthy from cardiovascular diseases and related complications, especially hyperlipidemia and ischemic heart disease among others [8]. The present review endeavors to overview up-to-date information on plants that have been proved to have a cardioprotective effect against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.…”