Current Topics in Herbal Medicine with Applications in Cardiovascular Diseases

Herbal Medicine (HM) also called herbology or herbalism is the study and utilization of plants or plant parts for therapeutic purposes. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the diseases that affect the cardiovascular system. Major CVDs include coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias and cerebrovascular diseases such as different types of stroke. The causes of CVDs are diverse, but atherosclerosis and /or hypertension are amongst the most common. A copious numbers of herbal medicines are used against cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, there has been an unprecedented increase in the use of herbal medicine in China and also in Western countries. This chapter aims to highlight current herbal medicines (HMs) and their effect on cardiovascular diseases. The natural sources, mode of actions, specific targets of herbs, have been tabulated to provide readers an insight to the subject. The main focus of the chapter is to elaborate synergism, drug interaction, effect of individual herbs on various cardiovascular disorders and to pinpoint the side effects and fruitful effects associated with these herbal medicines (HMs).

Keywords: Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular diseases, Complementary and Alternative medicines, Drug-interaction, Fatal disease, FDA, Heart, Herbal medicines, Herb-drug Interaction, Hypertension, Mechanism of HMs, Pharmacological effects, Phytochemicals, Registration of HMs, Synergism, Treatment.