Current Issues

Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although several classes of synthetic antihypertensive agents are available, their long-term use is often associated with side effects, poor patient compliance, and economic burden. In recent years, herbal plants have gained significant attention as complementary and alternative therapies for the management of hypertension due to their affordability, safety profile, and rich phytoconstituents with diverse pharmacological actions. Various medicinal plants such as Allium sativum, Moringa oleifera, Ocimum basilicum, Phyllanthus amarus, Punica granatum, Raphanus sativus, Rauwolfia serpentine, Sesamum indicum and Zingiber officinale have demonstrated antihypertensive effects through mechanisms including vasodilation, diuresis, calcium channel blockade, ACE inhibition, antioxidant activity, and modulation of lipid metabolism. Scientific investigations, encompassing phytochemical screening, in vitro and in vivo studies, and clinical trials, have validated their potential role in lowering blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health. However, challenges remain in terms of standardization, dosage optimization, safety evaluation, and herb–drug interactions. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of herbal plants in hypertension management and emphasizes the need for further research to develop standardized, evidence-based phytopharmaceuticals for effective and safe clinical use

Keyword: Hypertension, synthetic antihypertensive agents, herbal plants, calcium channel blockade, ACE inhibition, antioxidant activity.