Therapeutics properties of medicinal plants in cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the scientific evidence about medicinal plants with therapeutic properties in pathologies that affect the cardiovascular system. Method: integrative literature review conducted at databases MEDLINE and LILACS through BVS and MTCI in the Americas, with articles published between 2000 and January 2023. Controlled descriptors “medicinal plants” AND “cardiovascular diseases” were used and 406 studies were found. After applying the exclusion and inclusion criteria, the final corpus consists of nine studies. Results: the following plants have been flagged as beneficial for cardiovascular disease: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, Citrus aurantifolia, Rhammus alaternus, Centaurium erythrea, among others. Evidence pointed to beneficial and cardioprotective effects on diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity. The most cited plants for the treatment of dyslipidemia were Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus; for diabetes, Cuminum Cyminum; for hypertension, Macrotyloma uniflorum Verdc, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Citrus limon; and for obesity, Azadirachta indica A. Jus. Final considerations: most studies have shown favorable scientific evidence from extracts from medicinal plants, as well as for the formulation of new drugs. Therefore, new studies are necessary to explore the therapeutic potentials of medicinal plants in their natural form.