Natural Health Products as Modulators of Adenosine and ATP Metabolism for Cardiovascular Protection

Adenosine is an important endogenous purine nucleoside and an essential component of the molecular energy generated from adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP). It acts as both a precursor and metabolite of adenine nucleotides. As every cell utilizes the energy generated from catabolism of ATP, adenosine is found ubiquitously in the body. It is also a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system, and its role for cardioprotection and cardiovascular homeostasis has been studied for over 80 years [1-3]. Adenosine is also known as a “homeostatic metabolite in cardiac energy metabolism” [4] owing to its wide range of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system [5] which include negative chronotropic and dromotropic effect in cardiac tissue, vasodilatation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, modulation of vascular smooth muscles and endothelium and induction of ischemic preconditioning [6]. Adenosine modulates these actions by interacting with adenosine receptors (AR), which are widely distributed throughout the body. It is believed that metabolic condition of the myocardium may be assessed quantitatively by the level of adenosine production which maintains a healthy balance between energy supply and demand in the cardiovascular system [7].