Title:Therapeutic Potential of Phytochemicals in Combination with Drugs for Cardiovascular Disorders
Volume: 23
Issue: 6
Author(s): James Z. Shen, Ting L.J. Ng and Wing S. Ho
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Natural products, phytochemicals, heart diseases, combination therapy.
Abstract: The incidence of cardiovascular disorders is increasing worldwide. Heart disease is the leading
cause of death for both men and women. High blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and
smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. Other medical conditions such as diabetes, overweight, obesity and
lifestyle can put people at a higher risk for coronary heart disease. The preventive measures based on the common
drugs may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The present review highlights the contributions of
therapeutic potential of phytochemicals in management of cardiovascular diseases. However, the delivery efficiency
of therapeutic agents can be enhanced in order to improve the efficacy of phytochemicals as a therapeutic
agent. The oral administration of phytochemicals as therapeutic agents is a common approach. The review highlights
the recent development of natural products for the complementary treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
These findings indicate that the combination of therapeutic drugs and natural products may improve the treatment
efficacy of therapeutic agents.