Biologically active phospholipids as potential cardiovascular drugs

Both useful and undesirable cardiovascular properties have been associated with naturally occurring and synthetically derived phospholipids. Certain phospholipids may function physiologically (or pathophysiologically) in such processes as blood pressure regulation, cardiac rhythm, and platelet aggregation. Drugs that can modify the synthesis or degradation of endogenous phospholipid mediators or selectively mimic or block their effects may be of interest as potentially useful cardiovascular agents. This article reviews the current literature in this area and defines in chemical, biochemical, and biological terms the potential of the phospholipid‐type compounds in the development of useful cardiovascular drugs.