A new international study led from Spain has shed light on the therapeutic potential of several Mediterranean plants traditionally used in food and herbal remedies. The investigation, which began as a bachelor’s thesis at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), has now been published in the journal Food Bioscience. The work was developed with the support of researchers from the Neurosciences Institute of UAB (INc-UAB), the University of Barcelona, and academic collaborators in Cuba and Chile.
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Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of illness and death worldwide, and scientists are increasingly looking to natural products as possible allies in prevention and treatment. For centuries, plant extracts have contributed to the development of new medicines thanks to their rich concentration of bioactive compounds. Yet despite their promise, their therapeutic application continues to be limited by possible side effects, interactions with conventional drugs, and the lack of robust scientific evidence from well-designed preclinical and clinical studies.
During the 2023–2024 academic year, biology student Mateu Anguera Tejedor contributed significantly to this field with his undergraduate thesis at UAB. His work was supervised by Cuban researcher René Delgado Hernández, formerly a postdoctoral fellow at the UAB Institute of Neuroscience and now a professor at the University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences. Their collaboration has now culminated in a peer-reviewed article that systematically reviews the scientific evidence surrounding some of the most emblematic plants of the Mediterranean diet.
The study focused on six representative species and their main bioactive compounds: garlic (Allium sativum, with allicin, diallyl trisulfide and S-allyl cysteine), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna, with quercetin, apigenin and chlorogenic acid), saffron (Crocus sativus, with crocin and safranal), olive (Olea europaea, with oleic acid, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and oleacein), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, with rosmarinic and carnosic acids) and grapevine (Vitis vinifera, with resveratrol). These natural compounds were found to share important pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, vasodilation, and regulation of lipid metabolism—all mechanisms that play a central role in cardiovascular health. The review highlights that such effects could prove beneficial in conditions such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, and may even reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Beyond compiling existing scientific data, the article identifies the gaps that must be addressed before these plant-derived molecules can move closer to medical use. Among the priorities for future research are assessing the long-term safety of these compounds, understanding their combined or synergistic effects when consumed together in the context of the Mediterranean diet, and developing standardized experimental and clinical protocols. By building this stronger evidence base, the authors argue, it may be possible to transform these traditional remedies into modern phytomedicines.
The researchers also caution against a simplistic view of “natural equals safe.” They emphasize that although these plants have been consumed for centuries, the pharmacological use of their extracts may carry risks, particularly when combined with other dietary components or drugs. This phenomenon, known as the “matrix effect,” means that the ingestion of multiple plant compounds at the same time can either enhance or reduce their therapeutic potential. Therefore, rigorous pharmacokinetic, toxicological, and clinical studies are needed to clarify their real safety and effectiveness compared with established cardiovascular drugs.
The project forms part of the research line led by Professor Francesc Jiménez Altayó, from the Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology at UAB. He is also a researcher at the Center for Biomedical Research in Cardiovascular Diseases (CIBERCV) and the Neurosciences Institute at UAB. Professor Jiménez Altayó was the mentor of Professor Delgado Hernández during his fellowship at UAB, strengthening the scientific collaboration that made this publication possible. The final paper also counted on the expertise of academic partners in Cuba and Chile, recognized for their work in natural product pharmacology.
This investigation not only validates the long-held traditions surrounding Mediterranean plants but also positions them as serious candidates for the development of future cardiovascular therapies. By bridging cultural knowledge and rigorous science, the researchers hope to pave the way for new plant-based medicines that may complement current treatments for the world’s most common—and most deadly—diseases.