Waltenberger Birgit, Mocan Andrei, Šmejkal Karel, Heiss Elke H, Atanasov Atanas G
Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
Molecules. 2016 Jun 22;21(6):807. doi: 10.3390/molecules21060807.
Natural products have always been exploited to promote health and served as a valuable source for the discovery of new drugs. In this review, the great potential of natural compounds and medicinal plants for the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, global health problems with rising prevalence, is addressed. Special emphasis is laid on natural products for which efficacy and safety have already been proven and which are in clinical trials, as well as on plants used in traditional medicine. Potential benefits from certain dietary habits and dietary constituents, as well as common molecular targets of natural products, are also briefly discussed. A glimpse at the history of statins and biguanides, two prominent representatives of natural products (or their derivatives) in the fight against metabolic disease, is also included. The present review aims to serve as an "opening" of this special issue of Molecules, presenting key historical developments, recent advances, and future perspectives outlining the potential of natural products for prevention or therapy of cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
天然产物一直被用于促进健康，并作为发现新药的宝贵来源。在这篇综述中，探讨了天然化合物和药用植物在治疗或预防心血管和代谢紊乱方面的巨大潜力，这些疾病是全球患病率不断上升的健康问题。特别强调了那些疗效和安全性已经得到证实且正在进行临床试验的天然产物，以及传统医学中使用的植物。还简要讨论了某些饮食习惯和膳食成分的潜在益处，以及天然产物的常见分子靶点。同时也介绍了他汀类药物和双胍类药物的历史，它们是天然产物（或其衍生物）在对抗代谢疾病方面的两个杰出代表。本综述旨在作为《分子》这一特刊的“开篇”，呈现关键的历史发展、最新进展以及未来展望，概述天然产物在预防或治疗心血管和代谢疾病方面的潜力。
