Highlights

• This review consolidates evidence showing that herbal flavonoids regulate multiple biological pathways—including lipid regulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, and autophagy—rather than modulating single signalling pathway.
• It introduces transcription factors like TFEB and KLF2 as emerging novel targets of flavonoids in atherosclerosis that are not well-characterized in existing cardiovascular research.
• The article provides a detailed mapping of specific molecular targets influenced by each flavonoid subclass, offering a structured framework for future drug development.

Summary

The review summarizes how flavonoids derived from herbal medicines help combat atherosclerosis (AS), a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. The authors outline how flavonoids regulate lipid metabolism, counter oxidative stress, suppress inflammation, inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, and activate autophagy—key mechanisms implicated in AS development.

The review highlights various subclasses of flavonoids, such as flavones, flavonols, isoflavones, and biflavonoids, detailing their structural features and biological effects. Additionally, the paper discusses specific molecular pathways regulated by flavonoids, and clinical findings that support the therapeutic potential of flavonoids in managing AS.

Overall, it positions herbal flavonoids as promising candidates for safer and more comprehensive treatment strategies against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

M. Huang et al., “The multifaceted anti-atherosclerotic properties of herbal flavonoids: A comprehensive review,” Pharmacological Research, vol. 211, p. 107551, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107551.