The Effects of Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Natural Compounds on Homocysteine
Mohammad Amin Atazadegan1, Mohammad Bagherniya2,3,4, Gholamreza Askari2,3,4
1Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8174673461, Iran.
Insights
Medicinal plants like curcumin and resveratrol show promise in reducing homocysteine levels, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). While animal studies are promising, more clinical trials are needed to confirm these effects in humans.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Pharmacognosy
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading global cause of death, with homocysteine as a significant risk factor.
- Elevated homocysteine contributes to CVDs through mechanisms like vascular inflammation.
- Medicinal plants are increasingly researched for their therapeutic potential in chronic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy of bioactive natural compounds on homocysteine levels.
- To synthesize findings from clinical trials and animal studies on herbal compounds and homocysteine.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of clinical trials and animal studies.
- Analysis of the impact of various herbal bioactive compounds on homocysteine levels.
Main Results:
- Animal studies indicate significant homocysteine reduction by black tea, green tea, cinnamon, resveratrol, curcumin, garlic extract, ginger, and soy.
- Clinical trials suggest curcumin and resveratrol favorably impact serum homocysteine.
- Results from clinical trials were inconsistent, highlighting the need for further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Medicinal plants offer natural, accessible, and cost-effective agents for managing homocysteine levels, particularly supported by animal studies.
- Current clinical evidence for herbal compounds' effect on homocysteine is not uniform.
- More rigorous, well-designed clinical trials are essential to validate the therapeutic potential of these natural compounds for CVD prevention.
Background:
Among non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in global communities. By 2030, CVD-related deaths are projected to reach a global rise of 25 million. Obesity, smoking, alcohol, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hyperhomocysteinemia are several known risk factors for CVDs. Elevated homocysteine is tightly related to CVDs through multiple mechanisms, including inflammation of the vascular endothelium. The strategies for appropriate management of CVDs are constantly evolving; medicinal plants have received remarkable attention in recent researches, since these natural products have promising effects on the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases. The effects of nutraceuticals and herbal products on CVD/dyslipidemia have been previously studied. However, to our knowledge, the association between herbal bioactive compounds and homocysteine has not been reviewed in details. Thus, the main objective of this study is to review the efficacy of bioactive natural compounds on homocysteine levels according to clinical trials and animal studies.
Results:
Based on animal studies, black and green tea, cinnamon, resveratrol, curcumin, garlic extract, ginger, and soy significantly reduced the homocysteine levels. According to the clinical trials, curcumin and resveratrol showed favorable effects on serum homocysteine. In conclusion, this review highlighted the beneficial effects of medicinal plants as natural, inexpensive, and accessible agents on homocysteine levels based on animal studies. Nevertheless, the results of the clinical trials were not uniform, suggesting that more well-designed trials are warranted.
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