Oxidative stress in cardiovascular disease: a new avenue toward future therapeutic approaches

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Oxidative stress is a key factor in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease pathogenesis.
• Existing drugs like vitamin C, vitamin E, edaravone, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and statins exhibit antioxidant properties alongside their primary functions.
• Current clinical trial data on antioxidant reagents for cardiovascular disease is inconsistent, potentially due to study design limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in the development of novel antioxidant therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases.
• To highlight promising future drug candidates that target oxidative stress pathways.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current scientific advances in antioxidant therapy for cardiovascular diseases.
• Analysis of existing and emerging drug classes targeting oxidative stress.

Main Results:

• Various drugs, including antioxidants and those with secondary antioxidant effects (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, statins), are used to manage cardiovascular conditions.
• Inconsistent clinical trial outcomes for antioxidant reagents necessitate further investigation.
• Emerging therapeutic candidates include superoxide dismutase mimetics, thiols, and inhibitors of xanthine oxidase and NAD(P)H oxidase.

Conclusions:

• Developing effective antioxidant therapies remains crucial for managing cardiovascular diseases.
• Future research should focus on novel agents that precisely regulate intracellular redox balance to combat oxidative stress.
• Superoxide dismutase mimetics and enzyme inhibitors represent promising avenues for next-generation cardiovascular drug development.