Nadezhda V. Nesterova, Natalia D. Bunyatyan, Irina A. Samylina, Vladimir A. Evteev

Cardiotropic medicinal products of plant origin. Prospects for use in modern clinical practice

Introduction

Cardiotropic medicinal products of plant origin. Prospects for use in modern clinical practice. Discover the prospects of cardiotropic plant-based medicines in clinical practice. This review covers their use in cardiovascular diseases, heart failure & arrhythmia, highlighting their continued importance.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the research was to study the current state of use and improvement of the prospects for the using cardiological medicinal products obtained on the basis of medicinal plant raw materials. Materials and Methods: The work used content analysis, monitoring of scientific articles using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, analysis of the nomenclature of the State Register of Medicines of the Russian Federation (2024) and the Register of Medicines of Russia (2024). Results and Discussion: The study revealed that diseases of the cardiovascular system are some of the most common causes of death among the population, with at least 37.7 million people suffering from varying degrees of heart failure alone. Despite the constant growth of the range of medicines for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, medicinal plants and preparations based on them, which are more often used in complex therapy, still play an important role in their therapy. In this review, we consider drugs derived from medicinal plant raw materials used for the treatment of heart failure and arrhythmia of various etiologies, as the most serious cardiovascular pathologies. Conclusion: Preparations based on herbal remedies with cardiotropic and antiarrhythmic effects are relevant in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Cardiotropic action is characteristic of the group of cardiac glycosides, and antiarrhythmic activity is more pronounced in alkaloids and flavonoid substances. Taking into account the prospects for the use of herbal preparations with cardiotropic effects in the complex therapy of cardiovascular diseases, an important and unsolved problem today remains the problem of their interaction with other drugs, which in the future can be solved by creating artificial intelligence programs that contribute to the formation of optimal prescriptions for a particular patient.

Review

This review article, "Cardiotropic medicinal products of plant origin. Prospects for use in modern clinical practice," tackles a highly pertinent subject concerning the enduring role of phytomedicine in cardiovascular therapy. The authors clearly delineate their aim: to investigate the current utilization and future potential of plant-based cardiotropic agents. Employing a methodology well-suited for a comprehensive review, including content analysis, extensive database monitoring (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, ResearchGate), and an examination of Russian drug registers, the study effectively highlights the persistent prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Crucially, it underscores the continued importance of medicinal plants and their derivatives, particularly in the complex management of conditions like heart failure and arrhythmias, even amidst the expanding landscape of synthetic pharmacotherapy. A significant strength of this review lies in its identification of key active compound classes, such as cardiac glycosides for cardiotropic effects and alkaloids/flavonoids for antiarrhythmic activity, thereby offering a useful categorization for clinicians and researchers. The emphasis on the integration of these natural products within complex therapeutic regimens reflects a practical understanding of their current clinical application. However, while the abstract establishes the overall significance of plant-based treatments, it lacks specificity regarding which particular plant species or compounds were discussed, or the depth of evidence supporting their efficacy. More critically, the paper rightly identifies drug-drug interactions as a major unresolved challenge for herbal preparations. While the proposition of artificial intelligence programs to optimize prescriptions is forward-thinking and innovative, the abstract does not elaborate on the specific mechanisms or current limitations that AI would overcome, making this suggestion feel somewhat abrupt without further context within the full paper. Overall, this review makes a valuable contribution by reaffirming the relevance of cardiotropic and antiarrhythmic herbal remedies in contemporary medicine and by accurately pinpointing a critical area for future development: the management of drug interactions. The call for AI-driven solutions represents an insightful vision for enhancing personalized medicine and safety in polypharmacy involving phytotherapeutic agents. Future work stemming from this review could focus on rigorous clinical trials to further validate efficacy and safety, alongside dedicated research into the practical development and implementation of AI tools specifically tailored for optimizing herbal-drug prescriptions. The article serves as an important reminder of the therapeutic potential residing in plant-derived medicines, urging continued scientific exploration to maximize their benefits while effectively mitigating associated risks in clinical practice.

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