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Although the people's knowledge about cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has increased, these diseases are still among the main causes of mortality in industrialized and developing countries and communities. For controlling and treating CVDs, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical methods can be helpful. The high global prevalence of CVDs and associated serious effects on the body organs made them a major health problem in all societies. Concerns about the side effects of synthetic drugs lead to their improper usage and rejection by patients and subsequently a disrupted disease management process. For this reason, today, a new approach is emerging toward medicinal plants, and in fact, they are subjected to extensive research these days. The aim of this review was to introduce medicinal plants and present their action mechanisms, which have been effective in the treatment of CVDs. A literature search was conducted to recruit the articles published in various databases. We also reviewed reference textbooks to elaborate on the mechanisms of action of various plants in the treatment of cardiac diseases and investigate the involved molecular mediators and pathways. Studies have shown that herbal medicines through various mechanisms such as lowering blood pressure, resolving diabetes, improving atherosclerosis, reducing blood fats, inducing nitric oxide, blocking calcium channels, and suppressing the renin-angiotensin pathway can help improve CVDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to identify the effect of vasopressin (AVP) on electrocardiographic changes produced by ischemia-reperfusion. Male rats were divided into seven groups (n=8-13) subjected to 30min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion. In protocol I (control group), saline was administered before ischemia. In protocol II, different doses of AVP (0.015, 0.03, 0.06 and 0.12μg/rat) were infused 10 min before ischemia. In protocol III SR49059 (1 mg/kg), was injected 20 min prior to ischemia with and without the effective dose of AVP (0.03 g/rat). Ischemia-induced arrhythmia and myocardial infarct size (IS) were measured. Different doses of vasopressin decreased IS. There were no significant differences in PR, QRS duration and ΔT/ΔST ratio between control and intervention groups in ischemia. ST elevation was significantly increased in control and AVP 0.015, 0.03, 0.06 groups during ischemia. In AVP 0.12 group there was no significant difference in ST deviation between the baseline and ischemia phase. JT interval was significantly increased in control and antagonist group during ischemia. AVP 0.12μg/rat prevented the increase of JT interval in ischemia compared to the baseline. In summary, AVP mediated preconditioning improved ST resolution, prevented prolongation of JT interval and decreased the likelihood of subsequently ventricular arrhythmia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increased awareness about high blood pressure, it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the community. Medication and high blood pressure can be treated with medication and non-medication. The high prevalence of high blood pressure around the world and development of serious and dangerous complications this disease a major health problem in all societies and is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. Concerns about the side effects of chemical drugs lead to misuse of medications, intolerance to patients and consequently, impaired control of the disease. That's why today there is a new approach to medicinal plants and a lot of research is being done on medicinal plants. The purpose of the present study is investigation of plants and provides the mechanism of action of the most effective medicinal plants in the treatment of hypertension. This paper examines the use of electronic search in articles published in various Internet databases and reference books on the mechanism of action of various plants in the treatment of hypertension by affecting the molecular mechanisms involved in the disease. According to the results of some medicinal plants such as Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Berberis vulgaris L., Rosa × damascena Herrm., Punica granatum L., Olea europaea L., Teucrium polium L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Urtica Dioica L., Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Allium sativum L. and Juglans regia L. are the most important medicinal plants affecting high blood pressure. Studies have shown that medicinal plants with various mechanisms such as vasodilation, production of nitric oxide (NO), calcium channel blockers, increased potassium, inhibition of renin-angiotensin pathway, and activation of intracellular CGMP and expansion of vasodilator effect to hypertension treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. An association exists between the alterations of liver markers and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). This study was designed to investigate the status of oxidative stress and liver markers in patients with CHD. Methods: This study included 50 CHD patients and 50 healthy volunteers. Serum activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) concentrations were measured. The Unpaired Student's t-test was used to analyze the data. Results: Serum GSH level and CAT and GPX activities were significantly greater in healthy controls than in CHD patients. Serum MDA, NO, and FBS levels and GGT, ALT, ALP activities were significantly greater in CHD patients than in healthy controls. Serum AST activity was greater in CHD patients than in controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Our results indicate that CHD is related to oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and elevated liver enzyme activity. CHD is a deadly disease that requires appropriate medical care. Antioxidant treatment might inhibit disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dyslipidemia is considered an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). In the present study, we examined lipid profiles and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and atherogenic indexes status and the relationship of PON1 activity by high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and atherogenic indexes in CHD patients and healthy people. Methods: The aim of the study was to compare PON1, lipid profiles, and atherogenic indexes in CHD patients and healthy people as controls. This study enrolled 50 CHD patients and 50 matched healthy controls. Serum activities of PON1 and levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and atherogenic indexes were analyzed. Data were analyzed by unpaired Student's t tests. Coefficients of correlation were calculated using Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: Levels of TG, TC, LDL, VLDL, FBG, and atherogenic indexes, atherogenic coefficients, and cardiac risk ratios were significantly greater in CHD patients than in controls. Paraoxonase 1 activity and HDL-C levels were significantly less in CHD patients than in controls. Also, PON1 activity correlated positively with HDLC and negatively with atherogenic coefficient, and cardiac risk ratios 1 and 2 in CHD patients. Conclusions: This study showed that CHD is associated with high lipid levels and atherogenic indexes, and low PON1 activity and HDL-C concentrations. Coronary heart disease is a pernicious disease requiring prolonged medical management and hypolipidemic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Oleuropein is a natural antioxidant and scavenging free radicals. In the present study, we examined effect of oleuropein on the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, atherogenic indexes, and relationship of PON1 activity by highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and atherogenic indices in gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. METHODS: This is a lab trial study in Khorramabad, Lorestan province of Iran (2013). 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups to receive saline; GM, 100 mg/kg/day; and GM plus oleuropein by 15 mg/kg intraperitoneal daily, respectively. After 12 days, animals were anesthetized, blood samples were also collected before killing to measure the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very LDL (VLDL), HDL-C, atherogenic index, lipid peroxidation, and the activities of PON1 of all groups were analyzed. Data were analyzed, and P < 0.050 was considered significant. RESULTS: Oleuropein significantly decreased lipid peroxidation, TG, TC, LDL, VLDL, atherogenic index, atherogenic coefficient (AC), and cardiac risk ratio (CRR). HDL-C level was significantly increased when treated with oleuropein. The activity of PON1 in treated animals was (62.64 ± 8.68) that it was significantly higher than untreated animals (47.06 ± 4.10) (P = 0.047). The activity of PON1 in the untreated nephrotoxic rats was significantly lower than that of control animals (77.84 ± 9.43) (P = 0.030). Furthermore, the activity of PON1 correlated positively with HDL-C and negatively with AC, CRR 1, and CRR 2 in the treated group with oleuropein. CONCLUSION: This study showed that oleuropein improves PON1 activity, lipid profile, and atherogenic index and can probably decrease the risk of cardiovascular death in nephrotoxic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Oleuropein is a natural antioxidant and scavenging free radicals. In the present study, we examined effect of oleuropein on paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, atherogenic indices, and relationship of PON1 activity by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and atherogenic indices in gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. METHODS: This is a lab trial study in Khorramabad, Lorestan province of Iran (2013). Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups to receive saline; GM, 100 mg/kg/d; and GM plus oleuropein by 15 mg/kg i.p daily, respectively. After 12 days, animals were anaesthetized, blood samples were also collected before killing to measure the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), HDL-C, atherogenic index, lipid peroxidation and the activities of PON1 of all groups were analyzed. Data were analyzed, and P < 0.050 was considered significant. RESULTS: Oleuropein significantly decreased lipid peroxidation, TG, TC, LDL, VLDL, atherogenic index, atherogenic coefficient (AC), and cardiac risk ratio (CRR). HDL-C level was significantly increased when treated with oleuropein. The activity of PON1 in treated animals was (62.64 ± 8.68) that it was significantly higher than untreated animals (47.06 ± 4.10) (P = 0.047). The activity of PON1 in the untreated nephrotoxic rats was significantly lower than that of control animals (77.84 ± 9.43) (P = 0.030). Furthermore, the activity of PON1 correlated positively with HDL-C and negatively with AC, CRR1, and CRR2 in the treated group with oleuropein. CONCLUSION: This study showed that oleuropein improves PON1 activity, lipid profile, and atherogenic index and can probably decrease the risk of cardiovascular death in nephrotoxic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is increasing in recent years. Factors associated with mortality in CHF patients are important to be determined in order to select therapeutic modality by physicians. The purpose of the current study was to declare predictors of 6-months survival in patients hospitalized for decompensated CHF in Isfahan., Methods: A cohort of 301 hospitalized patients with decompensated CHF were recruited in this study. The diagnosis of CHF was based on previous hospitalizations and Framingham criteria for heart failure (HF). Information regarding past history, accompanying diseases such as cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), clinical data, medications and echocardiography were obtained by a cardiologist. Patients were followed for their survival for 6 months by telephone calls. Kaplan-Meier method was used for uni variate survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis., Results: Mean age of patients was 71.9 ± 12.2 years and 59.8% was male. During 6-months follow-up 138 (45.8%) patients died. Mean survival was 119.2 ± 4.4 days (Mean ± SEM). Significant prognostic factors for 6 months survival were high education level (HR = 0.74, CI 95% 0.59-0.93), COPD (HR = 1.91, CI 95% 1.2-3.04), CVA (HR = 1.69, CI 95% 1.03-2.78), Angiotensin Converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors use (HR = 0.44, CI 95% 0.3-0.66) and Diuretics (HR = 0.63, CI 95% 0.41-0.96)., Conclusion: Six-month survival of hospitalized decompensated CHF patients in Iran is not favorable. Many factors particularly accompanying diseases and medications affected the patient's 6-months survival.