title: Natural products with hypoglycemic, hypotensive, hypocholesterolemic, antiatherosclerotic and antithrombotic activities.
abstract: This article reviews compounds of botanical origin which are capable of lowering plasma levels of glucose and cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as compounds inhibiting atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Hypoglycemic natural products comprise flavonoids, xanthones, triterpenoids, alkaloids, glycosides, alkyldisulfides, aminobutyric acid derivatives, guanidine, polysaccharides and peptides. Hypotensive compounds include flavonoids, diterpenes, alkaloids, glycosides, polysaccharides and proteins. Among natural products with hypocholesterolemic activity are beta-carotene, lycopene, cycloartenol, beta-sitosterol, sitostanol, saponin, soybean protein, indoles, dietary fiber, propionate, mevinolin (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor) and polysaccharides. Heparins, flavonoids, tocotrienols, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins), garlic compounds and fungal proteases exert antithrombotic action. Statins and garlic compounds also possess antiatherosclerotic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, China Agricultural University, Beijing.
authors.forename: H X
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents