A REVIEW ON ROLE OF ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTY OF HERBS IN HYPERTENSION

Hypertension is the most common factor for cardiovascular disease and a major public health. Herbal medicines may protect against cardiovascular diseases by contributing to the total antioxidant defense system of the human body. Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl and peroxynitrite radicals. The natural products should be considered as the best in primary healthcare because of better cultural acceptability, safety, potent, inexpensive and lesser side effect. This review describes the role of antioxidant property of herbs used in hypertension. Several herbal medicines and supplements have been studied as potential therapeutic agents in the management of hypertension and its complications. Available data suggests that the extracts of most of these herbs or compounds derived from them may provide a safe and effective adjunctive therapeutic approach for the treatment of hypertension