ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, etc. accounts for millions of deaths per year and among these, hypertension (i.e. increased blood pressure) acts as a silent killer and is responsible for 7.5 billion deaths worldwide. Previously, abnormal functioning of the Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS) was considered as a risk factor for hypertension but in recent times, oxidative stress is a key factor in exaggerating the disease progression. In hypertension, oxidative stress damages the biomolecules, decreases the NO availability and endothelial functioning. The use of external antioxidants as therapeutic agents is an excellent approach in the treatment of hypertension. These antioxidants can reverse the deleterious effects of oxidative stress and recover normal cellular homeostasis. The book chapter is focused on the various natural antioxidants and their role as anti-hypertensive agents.
