Cardiovascular (CV) system dysfunction can result in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a key cause of death around the world. For many people, the most common treatment choices are still based on various plants used in traditional and folk medicine. Interestingly, many of these plants demonstrate various biological activities and pro-health properties; as such, there has been growing scientific interest in their use as medicines, including treatments for CVDs. Due to their varied biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anticancer potential, the members of the Asteraceae and Cucurbitaceae have long been used in traditional medicine. These properties are believed to derive from the chemical composition of the plants, which includes various flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes. Although many of their pro-health properties have been well described, their effect on the cardiovascular system and CVDs remains unclear. The present work reviews the current literature about the effects of preparations of vegetables of the Asteraceae and Cucurbitaceae families on the cardiovascular system and CVDs. Various species from the two families demonstrate antioxidant and antiplatelet activities in vitro and in vivo, which play key roles in the prophylaxis and treatment of CVDs. Additionally, some species have been evaluated for their anticoagulant activity. This review also describes the biological properties of these vegetables and discusses their anti-hyperlipidemic action, and their potential for obesity prevention and body weight control.
Keywords: Asteraceae; Cucurbitaceae; antiplatelet activity; cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular system; oxidative stress.