Phytochemicals as Therapeutic Interventions in Peripheral Artery Disease

Abstract

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects over 200 million people worldwide, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality, yet treatment options remain limited. Among the manifestations of PAD is a severe functional disability and decline, which is thought to be the result of different pathophysiological mechanisms including oxidative stress, skeletal muscle pathology, and reduced nitric oxide bioavailability. Thus, compounds that target these mechanisms may have a therapeutic effect on walking performance in PAD patients. Phytochemicals produced by plants have been widely studied for their potential health effects and role in various diseases including cardiovascular disease and cancer. In this review, we focus on PAD and discuss the evidence related to the clinical utility of different phytochemicals. We discuss phytochemical research in preclinical models of PAD, and we highlight the results of the available clinical trials that have assessed the effects of these compounds on PAD patient functional outcomes.

Keywords: beetroot; claudication; cocoa; flavonols; hindlimb ischemia; polyphenols.

Figure 1

Polyphenol chemical structures. (A) is the chemical structure of quercetin, (B) is the chemical structure of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (C) is the chemical structure of catechin, (D) is the chemical structure of epicatechin, (E) is the chemical structure of betanin, (F) is the chemical structure of resveratrol, (G) is the chemical structure of allicin, (H) is the chemical structure of diallyl disulfide (DADS), (I) is the chemical structure of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), (J) is the chemical structure of sulforaphane, (K) is the chemical structure of lycopene, and (L) is the chemical structure of curcumin.