Exploring Cardiac Tonic Medicinal Plants: An Ethnobotanical Perspective from Iran with Insights into Their Mechanisms of Action
Ozra Asham
1
(
Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
)
Ali Soleimani
2
(
Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
)
Keywords: Cardiovascular health, Cardiotonic effects, Ethnobotany, Medicinal plants, Herbal remedies,
Abstract :
Medicinal plants have been valued for centuries in both traditional and modern medicine for their potential to support cardiovascular health. This review aims to identify and document the medicinal plants known for their cardiotonic effects within the ethnobotanical knowledge of Iran. To gather information on medicinal plants with potential cardiotonic properties, this review utilised reputable databases such as Google Scholar, SID, Scopus, ISI, and Magiran. Key search terms included ‘medicinal plants,’ ‘cardiac tonic,’ and ‘ethnobotany,’ along with their English equivalents. The selected articles underwent a rigorous screening process based on criteria such as publication within the past fifteen years, unrestricted access, and detailed information on the effects of plants on cardiac health. The findings revealed that medicinal plants such as Ammi visnaga, Achillea wilhelmsii, Descurainia sophia, Leonurus cardiaca, Plantago major, Cannabis sativa, Nerium oleander, Allium ampeloprasum, Rubus sanctus, Verbena officinalis, Rheum ribes, Pistacia khinjuk, Leonurus cardiaca, Crataegus monogyna, Biebersteinia multifida, Hypericum perforatum, Melissa officinalis, and several others are used as cardiac tonics in various regions of Iran.This review highlights that Iranian ethnobotanical knowledge offers a valuable repository of information on medicinal plants with cardiotonic properties. Historically utilised in traditional Iranian medicine, these plants have the potential to support heart health and enhance cardiovascular function through a range of mechanisms.
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