Compounds from Food and Medicinal Plants as Sources and Inspiration for Cardiovascular Drug Development
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of global mortality, driving continuous efforts to identify new therapeutic strategies that extend beyond conventional pharmacological approaches. Natural compounds derived from food and medicinal plants represent a scientifically important and expanding area of research in cardiovascular medicine.
The newly launched Frontiers Research Topic:
“Compounds from Food and Medicinal Plants as Sources and Inspiration for the Development of Cardiovascular Drugs: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Targets, and Translational Perspectives” focuses on the mechanistic and translational potential of plant-derived bioactive compounds in cardiovascular health and disease.
Research within this topic explores how phytochemicals and nutraceuticals influence key pathophysiological processes involved in cardiovascular diseases, including:
- inflammation and oxidative stress
- endothelial dysfunction and vascular regulation
- lipid metabolism and atherosclerotic processes
- platelet activity and haemostasis
- metabolic and mitochondrial pathways relevant to cardiometabolic risk
A central aim of this Research Topic is to bridge the gap between basic experimental findings and clinical translation by integrating evidence from:
- preclinical pharmacological studies
- systems biology and network pharmacology approaches
- lipidomics and metabolomics analyses
- clinical and translational research
Particular attention is given to bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, plant sterols, and other secondary metabolites, which have demonstrated multi-target effects relevant to cardiovascular protection. These compounds are increasingly recognized not only as dietary components, but also as lead structures and inspiration for novel cardiovascular drug development.
Within this initiative, Prof. Premysl Mladenka is currently serving as an editor for this Special Issue in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. Researchers interested in contributing to this topic are invited to consider submitting their work. For inquiries or submission interest, contact: mladenkap@faf.cuni.cz.
By integrating knowledge from nutrition science, pharmacology, molecular biology, and clinical research, this Research Topic contributes to a deeper understanding of how natural compounds can be leveraged in the development of safer and more effective cardiovascular therapies.
