Myocardial hypertrophy

a compensatory and adaptive response of the heart

resulted from the heart's adapting to the overloading pressure. Pathological hypertrophy in left ventricle is prevalent in various cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension

arrhythmia and would even cause sudden cardiac death. Many influence factors could result in left ventricular hypertrophy

such as mechanical factors

nervous-humoral factors

cytokines

and signal pathways; they form a complex regulatory network

therefore drug combination with multiple targets is required for attaining precautionary and therapeutic effect. Currently

drugs used to treat left ventricular hypertrophy mainly include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor

angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker

calcium channel blockers

β-receptor blockers and diuretic

et al. Though many kinds of drugs can be used to treat left ventricular hypertrophy diseases

modern western medicines are limited to treat left ventricular hypertrophy because of single target and plentiful adverse reactions

while traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has become the focus in treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy due to multiple components and targets. Underlying mechanisms of effective components of TCM in left ventricular hypertrophy may involve renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

inflammatory factors

signal pathways and so on. The present study has reviewed the effects and mechanism of effective components (such as flavonoids

saponins

polysaccharides

alkaloids

and lactones) in TCM in preventing and reversing left ventricular hypertrophy through CNKI

Pubmed

Sciencedirect databases. This paper will provide evidence for exploring new therapeutic targets to restrain hypertrophy in left ventricle and finding new active substances.