ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the number one cause of mortality worldwide; it can be developed due to use of some chemotherapeutic drugs, change of life style and some disease conditions. The drugs which induce cardiotoxicity include anthracyclines, isoproterenol, trastuzumab, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide (CP) and heavy metals like arsenic (As), cadmium, and lead. These drugs induce oxidative stress resulting in free radical generation which in turn causes cardiac injury. About 80% of the world population relies on the use of traditional medicine to combat different types of CVD. Recent studies have focused on various plant extracts, herbs, and polyherbal formulations to treat CVD. Medicinal plants possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective activity that prove useful in ameliorating the cardiotoxicity. The current review discusses the cardioprotective efficacy of various phytochemicals from medicinal plants.
