Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of death in the developed and developing countries. The prevalence of coronary artery disease in rural as well as urban India is increasing day by day. The main reason for this increase is lifestyle changes such as sedentary jobs, improvement in socioeconomic status leading to unhealthy diet rich in fats, high stress jobs and the addictions like smoking and tobacco chewing Great Unani philosopher, Ibn Nafees was the first to describe the circulatory system of the human body, whereas Ibn Sina, described the causes of cardiac diseases in details in his treatise namely Risala-e-Advia Qalbiya. He also mentioned drugs having cardioprotective as well as the cardiotonic properties. This review deals with medicinal plants possessing cardioprotective and cardiotonic activity. This review work explains chemical and pharmacological status of various cardioprotective plants including phytoconstituents responsible for cardioprotection, dosage, pharmacological screening model and mechanism involved in cardioprotection. Unani or local name of the drug is mention in parenthesis with the Latin name. This review will definitely help in assessing the quantum of work done on cardioprotective plants