Mitochondria and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: Effects of Chinese herbal medicine and the underlying mechanisms

Ischemic heart disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Reperfusion therapy is the best treatment option for this condition. However, reperfusion can aggravate myocardial damage through a phenomenon known as myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, which has recently gained the attention of researchers. Several studies have shown that Chinese herbal medicines and their natural monomeric components exert therapeutic effects against I/R injury. This review outlines the current knowledge on the pathological mechanisms through which mitochondria participate in I/R injury, focusing on the issues related to energy metabolism, mitochondrial quality control disorders, oxidative stress, and calcium. The mechanisms by which mitochondria mediate cell death have also been discussed. To develop a resource for the prevention and management of clinical myocardial I/R damage, we compiled the most recent research on the effects of Chinese herbal remedies and their monomer components.