Systematic review of the plants of interest to the National Health System with cardiovascular therapeutic potential

Introduction: cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of mortality, because there are many risk factors associated with its development. Studies have shown that molecules extracted from medicinal plants can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Thus, the Ministry of Health, published in February 2009, the National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to SUS. Objective: to quantify the clinical studies that relate therapeutic potential of cardiovascular disease from the use of the National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to SUS, published between 2010 and February 2013 in three scientific databases (SciELO, Science Direct and Springer). Methods: the descriptors used in the initial search were the scientific name of the 71 plants from the National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to SUS. It considered all free papers made available in the form of full text search in databases, regardless of the language. The initial search resulted in the selection of 21 357 articles found in databases. The analysis was initially performed from reading the title of the publication. The articles were evaluated by reading the Abstratc. Finally, it was fully read the text of the articles selected after evaluation of the Abstract and was selected pre-clinical and clinical studies, in vitro and in vivo, that show therapeutic potential for cardiovascular disease. Results: this selection resulted in 34 articles of interest, of which 17 studies were conducted with the Curcuma longa plant. Myocardial infarction, cerebral ischemia and hypertension were morbidities with the greatest amount of therapeutic studies. Conclusions: the results of this study provide theoretical basis for discussions at the Public Health on alternative treatments for cardiovascular disease(AU)