Mechanisms of vasodilation induced by medicinal plants: A mini-review

Abstract

Medicinal plants are commonly used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases; however, there is a paucity of information on their mechanisms of action. Some antihypertensive medicinal plants have been reported to act like vasodilator drugs, through a variety of cell signalling processes involving modulation of endothelial and vascular smooth muscle functions. Since endothelial dysfunction as well as increased peripheral vascular resistance are known to be associated with hypertension, this review highlights key cell signalling processes involving endothelium-derived factors as well as cellular Ca2+ homeostasis that may be used to characterize the vasodilator actions of medicinal plants.