Atherosclerosis, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Atherosclerosis is a focal disease of the arterial wall that leads to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the biggest cause of morbidity and mortality in Western societies. CVD, a group of disorders of the heart and the vasculature, includes atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke and congenital heart defects. The World Health Organization report emphasizes that the cardio vascular diseases to be the leading cause of death and disability in India by 2020. Atherosclerosis with complicated pathogenesis involving oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and chronic inflammation. Epidemiological and clinical studies have shown strong and consistent relationships between markers of inflammation and risk of future cardiovascular events. Furthermore during the last decades several studies have examined the potential role of oxidative stress in atherogenesis. Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease take a substantial tax on our society. Understanding of all these processes will help to invent a range of new biomarkers and novel treatment modalities targeting various cellular events in acute and chronic inflammation that are accountable for atherosclerosis. Moreover, presently there is an increasing interest worldwide in herbal medicines accompanied by increased laboratory investigation into the pharmacological properties of the bioactive ingredients and their ability to treat various diseases.