Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment of
cardiovascular disease, the incidence of
cardiovascular disease is still rising. Therefore, new lines of medications are needed to treat the growing population of patients with
cardiovascular disease. Although the majority of the existing
pharmacotherapies for
cardiovascular disease are synthesized molecules, natural compounds, such as
resveratrol, are also being tested.
Resveratrol is a non-
flavonoid polyphenolic compound, which has several
biological effects. Preclinical studies have provided convincing evidence that
resveratrol has beneficial effects in animal models of
hypertension,
atherosclerosis,
stroke, ischemic heart disease,
arrhythmia,
chemotherapy-induced
cardiotoxicity,
diabetic cardiomyopathy, and
heart failure. Although not fully delineated, some of the beneficial cardiovascular effects of
resveratrol are mediated through activation of silent information regulator 1 (
SIRT1),
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and endogenous
anti-oxidant enzymes. In addition to these pathways, the anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet,
insulin-sensitizing, and
lipid-lowering properties of
resveratrol contribute to its beneficial cardiovascular effects. Despite the promise of
resveratrol as a treatment for numerous
cardiovascular diseases, the clinical studies for
resveratrol are still limited. In addition, several conflicting results from trials have been reported, which demonstrates the challenges that face the translation of the exciting preclinical findings to humans. Herein, we will review much of the preclinical and clinical evidence for the role of
resveratrol in the treatment of
cardiovascular disease and provide information about the physiological and molecular signaling mechanisms involved. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled:
Resveratrol: Challenges in translating pre-clinical findings to improved patient outcomes.