Cardiovascular diseases remain the foremost cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Plant extracts laden with bioactive substances have substantially contributed to pharmaceutical development, presenting therapeutic prospects for various cardiovascular conditions. Despite their potential, the application of these extracts faces restrictions due to potential side effects, interactions with other drugs, and a deficiency of robust scientific data from high-quality preclinical and clinical research.
In the academic year of 2023/24, biologist Mateu Anguera Tejedor made a notable advancement in this arena with his final year project for a Biology degree at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), under the guidance of René Delgado, who was a postdoctoral researcher at the UAB’s Institute of Neuroscience (INc-UAB) and is now a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences at the University of Barcelona. His research was later encapsulated in a scientific paper published in the journal Food Bioscience, which detailed the action mechanisms and the scientific evidence supporting the use of bioactive compounds extracted from key Mediterranean flora integral to the Mediterranean diet.
The paper discusses six plants specifically: garlic (Allium sativum), which contains compounds such as diallyl trisulfide and allicin; the hawthorn shrub (Crataegus monogyna), noted for its quercetin and chlorogenic acid; saffron (Crocus sativus) with crocin and safranal; olive (Olea europaea), which includes oleic acid and hydroxytyrosol; rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), rich in rosmarinic and carnosic acids; and the grapevine (Vitis vinifera), known for resveratrol. The review highlights their significant pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory effects, and their role in regulating lipid metabolism, which is crucial in managing atherosclerosis and hypertension. These compounds could be key in developing treatments to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes.
Furthermore, the study acts as a guide for future investigations by pinpointing existing knowledge gaps and proposing recommendations for the design of future preclinical and clinical studies. It emphasises the importance of exploring the long-term safety of these bioactive compounds, examining their synergistic effects within the Mediterranean diet, and standardising protocols in clinical trials. This could enhance the scientific understanding of these traditional remedies and foster their integration as active ingredients in new phytomedicines.
The research team, led by Francesc Jiménez Altayó, professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology at the UAB and researcher at the Centre for Biomedical Research in Cardiovascular Diseases Network (CIBERCV) and the UAB Institute of Neuroscience (INc-UAB), also notes the potential influence of combined extract ingestion on therapeutic outcomes. They point out the “matrix effect,” where dietary components may alter the effectiveness of each extract, possibly enhancing or reducing their benefits. Understanding these interactions is critical for optimising the therapeutic application of plant extracts in dietary contexts.
The team warns that while natural extracts show promise, the label “natural” does not automatically equate to safety. This highlights the urgent need for thorough pharmacokinetic, toxicological, and clinical studies to establish their efficacy, safety, and efficiency compared to conventional medications. The study underscores an often-overlooked point: robust evidence on the impact of natural extracts on human health is scant, prompting a cautious approach towards their use in medicine.
This comprehensive research, contributed to by esteemed academics from Cuban and Chilean institutions renowned in the pharmacology of natural products, was conducted under the auspices of the María Zambrano programme during the 2022/23 academic year. This collaboration reflects the international effort in researching natural remedies and marks a significant step towards integrating traditional knowledge and modern medicine to combat cardiovascular ailments effectively.
More information: Mateu Anguera-Tejedor et al, Exploring the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds from selected plant extracts of Mediterranean diet constituents for cardiovascular diseases: A review of mechanisms of action, clinical evidence, and adverse effects, Food Bioscience. DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2024.105487
Journal information: Food Bioscience Provided by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
