Targeting Ferroptosis in Cardiovascular Diseases: The Emerging Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Ferroptosis is a distinct form of regulated cell death (RCD) characterized primarily by iron dysregulation and lipid peroxidation. Emerging evidence indicates ferroptosis critically contributes to the initiation and progression of multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis (AS), myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiomyopathy, and heart failure (HF). With growing recognition of ferroptosis's role in CVD pathogenesis, targeting ferroptosis has become a promising therapeutic strategy for these diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by multicomponent, multitarget, and holistic regulatory properties. Studies have demonstrated that bioactive constituents, such as 6-gingerol, curcumin, ginsenoside Rg3, paeoniflorin, and stachydrine, and TCM compound formulations, including Danshentongluo-Detoxification Decoction, Yiqi Fumai Injection, Shexiang Baoxin Pill, and Shensong Yangxin Capsule, exert cardioprotective effects. These effects operate by suppressing ferroptosis via the modulation of iron metabolism, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and enhancement of anti-oxidant defense systems. Accordingly, this review systematically summarizes the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and its pathological roles in various CVDs while placing a particular emphasis on recent advances in TCM-based ferroptosis interventions. This summary provides theoretical insights and potential research strategies both for the prevention and treatment of CVD, and for the development of related therapeutics.