Is rosmarinic acid underestimated as an experimental cardiovascular drug?

The rationale of the present review is to analize the activity of Rosmarinus officinalis in the the cardiovascular system A MEDLINE database search (from January 1970 to December 2011) using only rosmarinic acid as searched term. The references search revealed 509 references about rosmarinic acid in 40 years (the first reference is from 1970). There is a powerful prevalence of antioxidant and cancer studies. Other diseases are few cited, as inflammation, brain (Alzheimer and Parkinson disease) and, memory; allergy; diabetes; atherosclerosis, and; hypertension. It is necessary to consider the complete absence of studies on coronary artery disease, myocardial ischemia, heart failure or ischemia/reperfusion injury. Rosmarinic acid is underestimated as an experimental cardiovascular drug and deserves more attention.