The Mechanism Exploration of Natural Medicines in Treating Cardiovascular Diseases Based on Network Pharmacology

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, and hypertension, are most commonly observed in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Approximately 15 million people die from them every year worldwide. CVDs are associated with high morbidity, disability, and mortality rates, posing a significant threat to public health. Although the importance of natural medicines in treating CVDs has become increasingly prominent, there is still much to be discovered about their composition and mechanisms of action. With the rise of network pharmacology as a valuable tool to understand how natural medicines work, researchers can study the body's responses to disease stimuli and drug therapy by constructing a “component–target–pathway–disease” interaction network. In this work, we summarized the application of network pharmacology in the study of CVDs. We also discussed the challenges and opportunities by this tools, hoping to provide suggestions for the treatment of the disease in the future.