Abstract

Myocardial infarction is a sudden and fatal disease that causes a significant number of deaths in the world. The current treatment strategy for MI is only for symptomatic relief and cannot cure or reverse the disease condition. Hence, there is a need to identify novel, definitive, and minimal toxic drugs to treat MI. Phytochemicals always draw attention as an alternative and upgraded choice to combat various ailments. Photochemical compounds are non-nutritive biologically active secondary metabolites abundantly found in plants. Andrographolide and its derivatives obtained from a medicinal herb, Andrographis paniculata, are broadly utilized in traditional medicinal systems to treat various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. In the present chapter, we explore andrographolide and its derivatives for its cardioprotective potential both in vitro and in vivo. Andrographolides show their cardioprotective potential by demonstrating multiple mechanisms, including ERK1/2 inhibition associated with anti-platelet action, PI3K/Akt pathway-associated inflammation inhibition, and activation of Nrf-2/HO-1pathway-associated antioxidant mechanism. Cardioprotection of andrographolide and its derivatives are shown by various animal models' anti-arrhythmic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant mechanisms. In this way, andrographolide and its derivatives can offer a better choice for developing a novel therapeutic molecule for myocardial infarction.