For many years, plants have been used in the traditional medicine of different cultures. The biennial plant of the family Asteraceae, Onopordum acanthium L., also known as Scotch thistle, is used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and cardiotonic agent. The plant is widespread in the world; it grows in Europe and Asia and was introduced to America and Australia. Stems and buds of the first-year plant are used in cooking as an analogue of artichoke in European cuisine. Additionally, inflorescences contain a complex of proteolytic enzymes “onopordosin”, which may be used as a milk-clotting agent in the dairy industry. The chemical composition of the aerial part and roots of O. acanthium is represented by flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, lignans, triterpenoids, sesquiterpene lactones, and sterols. The anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and cardiotonic properties of the plant have been confirmed by pharmacological experiments with extracts and individual compounds using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods. This work is a review of information on the chemical composition and pharmacological studies of O. acanthium as a promising medicinal plant.

A sedentary lifestyle has evoked a high risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, diabetes, and obesity, all of them with high morbimortality rates and with a common denominator, hypertension. Numerous pharmacological drugs have been used for the treatment of hypertension. However, the side effects associated with the use of existing pharmacological therapies have triggered a demand for plant-based medications. In this connection, the aim of this review was to provide an in-depth analysis of the use of plant-derived bioactives for the effective management of hypertension. Phytoconstituents from leaves, bark, stem, roots, seeds, and fruits of medicinal plants grown in our different regions of the globe have been highly searched. Among them, polyphenols (e.g., flavonoids as quercetin, anthocyanins as cyanidin, tannins as ellagic acid, stilbenes as resveratrol, lignans as honokiol and others as hydroxytyrosol or curcumin), organosulfur compounds (e.g. s-allyl cysteine and allicin), fatty acids (e.g. α-lipoic acid, DHA and oleic acid), alkaloids (e.g. berberine or tetrandrine) and some terpenes have been intensively investigated for the management of hypertension, with effective ability being stated in controlling high blood pressure and related health problems both in vivo and in vitro studies. Some of the activities presented by these bioactive compounds are reducing oxidative stress, renin-angiotensin system control, SIRT1 activation, regulating platelet aggregation and COX activity, anti-atherogenic effects, anti-inflammatory properties, vasorelaxation and other results that translate into the prevention or control of hypertension. The knowledge of these bioactive compounds is important in developing countries where traditional medicine is the majority, but it can also give rise to new approaches in hypertension therapy.