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Published on: May 26, 2023
Traditional Chinese medicine and mitophagy: A novel approach for cardiovascular disease management
Jinhui Wang1, Junbo Zou1, Yajun Shi1
1Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an 712046, Shaanxi, PR China.
Insights
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers promising cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatments by targeting mitophagy. Herbal compounds and active monomers show potential for effective CVD therapies with fewer side effects.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pharmacology
- Mitochondrial Biology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of mortality, with conventional treatments often causing adverse effects.
- Mitophagy, a cellular process, is a target for novel CVD prevention and treatment strategies.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) presents a promising alternative for CVD management due to its unique therapeutic approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review herbal compounds, extracts, and active monomers targeting mitophagy for CVD treatment over the past five years.
- To provide valuable information for researchers and clinicians in developing novel, safer cardiovascular drugs.
- To serve as a reference for future research on mitophagy in cardiovascular health.
Main Methods:
- Searched databases for studies published within the last five years (until January 2024).
- Used keywords: "cardiovascular disease," "mitophagy," "herbal preparations," "active monomers," "cardiac disease pathogenesis," "natural products," and "diseases."
Main Results:
- Mitophagy is crucial in the pathogenesis of various CVDs, including atherosclerosis, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.
- Herbal preparations, extracts, and active monomers demonstrate potential in treating CVD by inducing mitophagy.
- These natural compounds protect cardiomyocytes by clearing damaged mitochondria and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis.
Conclusions:
- TCM, encompassing herbal preparations, extracts, and active monomers, effectively treats CVD by inducing mitophagy.
- These agents represent a significant area for future cardiovascular research.
- TCM-derived compounds offer a promising avenue for developing cardiovascular drugs with improved efficacy and reduced side effects.
Background:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing an enormous economic burden on individuals and human society. Laboratory studies have identified several drugs that target mitophagy for the prevention and treatment of CVD. Only a few of these drugs have been successful in clinical trials, and most studies have been limited to animal and cellular models. Furthermore, conventional drugs used to treat CVD, such as antiplatelet agents, statins, and diuretics, often result in adverse effects on patients' cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory systems. In contrast, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained significant attention for its unique theoretical basis and clinical efficacy in treating CVD.
Purpose:
This paper systematically summarizes all the herbal compounds, extracts, and active monomers used to target mitophagy for the treatment of CVD in the last five years. It provides valuable information for researchers in the field of basic cardiovascular research, pharmacologists, and clinicians developing herbal medicines with fewer side effects, as well as a useful reference for future mitophagy research.
Methods:
The search terms "cardiovascular disease," "mitophagy," "herbal preparations," "active monomers," and "cardiac disease pathogenesis" in combination with "natural products" and "diseases" were used to search for studies published in the past five years until January 2024.
Results:
Studies have shown that mitophagy plays a significant role in the progression and development of CVD, such as atherosclerosis (AS), heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI), cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmia. Herbal compound preparations, crude extracts, and active monomers have shown potential as effective treatments for these conditions. These substances protect cardiomyocytes by inducing mitophagy, scavenging damaged mitochondria, and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. They display notable efficacy in combating CVD.
Conclusion:
TCM (including herbal compound preparations, extracts, and active monomers) can treat CVD through various pharmacological mechanisms and signaling pathways by inducing mitophagy. They represent a hotspot for future cardiovascular basic research and a promising candidate for the development of future cardiovascular drugs with fewer side effects and better therapeutic efficacy.
