Application of traditional Chinese medicine in cardiovascular diseases

The role of ROS and lipoprotein in myocardial infarction

MI is one of the most common forms of ischemic heart disease and accounts for a large proportion of deaths. There is increasing evidence that ROS causes cell death after MI and is associated with the occurrence of MI. Reducing ROS levels may be an important therapeutic target for MI-induced injury. Studies have found that producing ROS with various antioxidants helps prevent oxidative stress-related harm and improves MI status (Bagheri et al., 2016). Adipose tissue is an important energy storage organ as well as an active endocrine gland that produces many important chemical messengers and biologically active proteins known as adipokines. The working state of adipose tissue signals the brain and other target organs through protein peptides called adipokines (Shibata et al., 2017). Several adipokines have been discovered in the last 20 years. In the case of adipose tissue damage, the secretion of most adipokines is altered and upregulated, leading to obesity. Obesity can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease. Lipoproteins, such as interleukin (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), IL-1β, and resistin, have pro-inflammatory effects and exacerbate various metabolic and cardiovascular diseases (Lau et al., 2017). Adipokines are involved in a "good-bad", yin-yang balance that produces substantial benefits (Mattu and Randeva, 2013). Some adipokines such as adiponectin, retinal protein, and apelin have anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, hypertensive, atherosclerotic, and cardioprotective effects. Others (endolipoprotein, leptin, resistin, fat cell fatty acid binding proteins) are pro-inflammatory and have a negative impact on cardiovascular function (Smekal and Vaclavik, 2017). Table 2 summarizes the role of traditional Chinese medicine for heart disease in regulating ROS.

Due to its antioxidant content, TCM treatments have particular advantages in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, Chinese medicine has made great progress. Chinese medicine has effectively improved the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, thus improving the quality of patients. The side effects of traditional Chinese medicine are minimal, but there are many significant therapeutic effects and are not dependent on drugs. The treatment of CVD and the application of traditional Chinese medicine to the disease have a comprehensive vision, worthy of further promotion and development. In addition, there is a clear and rigorous need for well-designed large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTS) and mechanistic studies to properly evaluate the efficacy, potential therapeutic benefits, and major cardiovascular adverse events of TCM in patients with cardiovascular disease.