This review will discuss the cardioprotective effects of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 activation in detail.

Therefore, mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 activation by small molecule activators suggests a promising new direction in cardiovascular research and the development of novel cardioprotective strategies.

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 is emerging as a key cardioprotective enzyme for its central role in the detoxification of reactive aldehydes.

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 activity strongly correlates to a better cardioprotective effect, and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 can be activated by several pathways.