Review of the Protective Mechanism of Paeonol on Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Paeonol(Pae) is a phenolic component extracted from peony bark, peony root and Xu Changqing. Studies have shown that Pae can protect cardiomyocytes by inhibiting oxidative stress, promoting mitochondrial fusion, regulating mitochondrial autophagy and inhibiting inflammation. In addition, Pae improves ventricular remodeling by inhibiting myocardial apoptosis, hypertrophy and fibrosis. Pae also has a good protective effect on blood vessels by inhibiting vascular inflammation, reducing the expression of adhesion molecules, inhibiting vascular proliferation, and inhibiting oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS). Pae also has the effect of anti-endothelial cell senescence, promoting thrombus recanalization and vasodilating. In conclusion, the molecular targets of Pae are very complex, and the relationship between different targets and signaling pathways cannot be clearly explained, which requires us to use systems biology methods to further study specific molecular targets of Pae. It has to be mentioned that the bioavailability of Pae is poor, and some nanotechnology-assisted drug delivery systems improve the therapeutic effect of Pae. We reviewed the protective mechanism of paeonol on the cardiovascular system, hoping to provide help for drug development in the treatment of CVD.

Keywords: adhesion; autophagy; inflammation; mitochondrial fusion; oxidative stress; paeonol.

Figure 1

(a) Peony bark. (b) Xu Changqing. (c) Paeonia rubra. (d) Chemical structure of Paeonol. (e and f) Pharmacological effects of Paeonol.

Figure 2

Protective mechanism of Pae on the heart. Pae protects the heart by reducing oxidative stress, promoting mitochondrial fusion, regulating mitochondrial autophagy, inhibiting myocardial inflammation, apoptosis, hypertrophy and fibrosis. * “↑↓←→” means to promote, while “┣┳┻┫” means to suppress.

Figure 3

Protective mechanism of Pae on blood vessels. Pae protects blood vessels by inhibiting vascular inflammation, reducing adhesion and inhibiting vascular proliferation. * “↑↓←→” means to promote, while “┣┳┻┫” means to suppress.

Figure 4

Protective mechanism of Pae on blood vessels. Pae protects blood vessels by inhibiting oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, promoting lipid metabolism, relaxing blood vessels, etc * “↑↓←→” means to promote, while “┣┳┻┫” means to suppress.