Angiographic findings after supplementation with Heracleum persicum extract: Results of a randomized controlled trial

• Main Authors: Yunes Panahi, Bahram Pishgoo, Amirhossein Sahebkar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
• Series: Heart Views
• Subjects: Angiography; Heracleum persicum; herbal pharmacotherapy; ischaemic heart disease; randomized controlled trial
• Online Access: http://www.heartviews.org/article.asp?issn=1995-705X;year=2015;volume=16;issue=3;spage=85;epage=87;aulast=Panahi

Background: Heracleum persicum is a common dietary spice with several traditional medicinal properties important for cardiovascular health including antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study explored the effects of supplementation with H. persicum fruit on the angiographic findings of patients with minimal coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Subjects who were diagnosed with <50% stenosis in any of their coronary arteries by angiography were selected for this trial and randomly assigned to H. persicum hydroalcoholic fruit extract (n = 15; 300 mg/day) or placebo (n = 12) for 6 months. At the end of the trial, participants underwent a second coronary angiography in order to evaluate the progression of their disease. Results: Posttrial angiography did not reveal any improvement in the number of stenosed vessels after consumption of H. persicum extract versus placebo (P > 0.05). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the study groups in terms of disease progression and chest pain score (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The present results do not support any clinically significant benefit of supplementation with H. persicum extract on the angiographic findings of in patients with minimal CAD.