Review
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World J Cardiol. Oct 26, 2014; 6(10): 1091-1099
Published online Oct 26, 2014. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v6.i10.1091
Mitochondria-targeted agents: Future perspectives of mitochondrial pharmaceutics in cardiovascular diseases
Thekkuttuparambil Ananthanarayanan Ajith, Thankamani Gopinathan Jayakumar
Thekkuttuparambil Ananthanarayanan Ajith, Department of Biochemistry, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur 680 555, Kerala, India
Thankamani Gopinathan Jayakumar, Department of Interventional Cardiology, Amala Cardiac Centre, Thrissur 680 555, Kerala, India
Author contributions: Ajith TA contributed the text and was involved in designing, drafting, editing and revising the article; Jayakumar TG gave substantial contributions to the conception and revision of the article critically for important intellectual content; both authors approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Correspondence to: Thekkuttuparambil Ananthanarayanan Ajith, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Amala Nagar, Thrissur 680 555, Kerala, India. taajith@rediffmail.com
Telephone: +91-487-2304116 Fax: +91-487-2307969
Received: May 15, 2014
Revised: July 7, 2014
Accepted: August 27, 2014
Published online: October 26, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Dysfunction of mitochondria increases the risk for a large number of human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Heart failure (HF) following ischemic heart disease, infantile cardiomyopathy and cardiac hypertrophy associated with left ventricular dilations are some of the cardiovascular diseases in which the role of mitochondrial oxidative stress has been reported. Recent reports on chronic HF followed by ischemic heart disease suggested a reduced supply of energy necessary for the contractile function of cardiomyocytes. Since mitochondrial damages are central to the pathophysiology of HF, various approaches are used to target compounds at mitochondria alone or adjunct to standard therapies.