What are the health benefits of Danshen?

What are the health
benefits of Danshen?

Animal studies have suggested that danshen (丹參) may have benefits of
blood pressure lowering; anti-fibrinolytic activities and inhibitory effect of
platelet aggregation [1,2] However, its side effects can be serious,
especially if the users are overdosed. It interacts with warfarin, danshen
should be avoided in patients taking blood thinning or blood pressure
lowering agents. [3]

Researchers from Yangzhou University, China, found that danshen
decoction accelerated the healing of ulcer induced by acetic acid,
increased the content of mucus and inhibited the formation of gastric
ulcer in a study of mice. [4]

Yue KK and co-workers at Hong Kong Baptist University found that oral
intake of danshen improved the glutathione and malondialdehyde levels
in the eyes and aorta in diabetic rats. In addition, danshen didn't alter
the hyperglycemic status of the diabetic animals. Thus, that oral
administration of danshen can effectively prevent the occurrence of
oxidative stress in the eye and aorta of the diabetic rats, help prevent or
relieve the diabetic complications. [5]

What are the active ingredients of danshen? Zhou L and co-workers at
The Chinese University of Hong Kong found the key ingredients of
danshen are danshensu, protocatechuic aldehyde, salvianolic acid B,
cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA. The first three are
hydrophilic while the rest are hydrophobic. [6] Later, Lam FF and co-
workers at the same institute found that inhibition of Ca(2+) influx in the
vascular smooth muscle cells contributes the vasorelaxant effects of
danshen aqueous extract and salvianolic acid B. Salvianolic acid B is
important constituent for the vasodilating activities of the plant. [7]
Later, Lam FF and co-workers found that the vasorelaxant actions of
other active ingredients - danshensu and dihydrotanshinone on rat
isolated coronary artery rings were also produced by inhibition of Ca2+
influx in the vascular smooth muscle cells. [9, 10]

On the other hand, Kim DD and co-workers at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical
School found that oral tanshinone (another active ingredient of Danshen;
50 microg/100 g body wt) reduced mean arterial pressure in
hypertensive hamsters. [8] They also identified eNOS stimulation is one
mechanism by which tanshinone induces vasodilation and reduces blood
pressure. [8]

Zhang ZP from Guangdong Medical College found that danshen root
compounds increased HDL-cholesterol and partially prevent the
occurrence of osteoporosis in mice suffered from hyperlipemia-induced
osteoporosis. [11] A study from Chang Gung University suggests a
danshen extract may be used as anti-enterovirus 71 agent. But, all
these studies are very primarily, more studies are needed to prove their
benefits. [12]

Leading scientist in danshen research

Lam FF, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese
University of Hong

Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong, China.

FrancisLam@cuhk.edu.hk

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Reference

[1] Kang DG, Yun YG, Ryoo JH, Lee HS. Anti-hypertensive effect of water extract of
danshen on renovascular hypertension through inhibition of the renin angiotensin
system. Am J Chin Med. 2002;30(1):87-93. Zou ZW, Xu LN, Tian JY.
Antithrombotic and antiplatelet effects of rosmarinic acid, a water-soluble
component isolated from radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (danshen) Yao Xue Xue Bao.
1993;28(4):241-5. [3] Chan TY. Interaction between warfarin and danshen (Salvia
miltiorrhiza). Ann Pharmacother. 2001 Apr;35(4):501-4. [4] Liu L, Zhang HQ.
Effects of Danshen Decoction on experimental gastric ulcer in rats and mice,
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2005 Jan;3(1):35-8. [5] Yue KK, Lee KW, Chan KK,
Leung KS, Leung AW, Cheng CH. Danshen prevents the occurrence of oxidative
stress in the eye and aorta of diabetic rats without affecting the hyperglycemic
state. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Jun 15;106(1):136-41. Epub 2006 Jan 20. [6]
Zhou L, Chow M, Zuo Z. Improved quality control method for Danshen products--
consideration of both hydrophilic and lipophilic active components. J Pharm
Biomed Anal. 2006 Jun 7;41(3):744-50. Epub 2006 Feb 2. [7] Lam FF, Yeung JH,
Kwan YW, Chan KM, Or PM. Salvianolic acid B, an aqueous component of danshen
(Salvia miltiorrhiza), relaxes rat coronary artery by inhibition of calcium channels.
Eur J Pharmacol. 2006 Dec 28;553(1-3):240-5. Epub 2006 Sep 23. [8] Kim DD,
Sánchez FA, Durán RG, Kanetaka T, Durán WN. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase is
a molecular vascular target for the Chinese herb Danshen in hypertension. Am J
Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2007 May;292(5):H2131-7. Epub 2006 Dec 15. [9] Lam
FF, Yeung JH, Chan KM, Or PM. Relaxant effects of danshen aqueous extract and
its constituent danshensu on rat coronary artery are mediated by inhibition of
calcium channels. Vascul Pharmacol. 2007 Apr;46(4):271-7. Epub 2006 Nov 18.
[10] Lam FF, Yeung JH, Chan KM, Or PM. Dihydrotanshinone, a lipophilic
component of Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen), relaxes rat coronary artery by
inhibition of calcium channels. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Sep 26;119(2):318-21.
Epub 2008 Jul 18. [11] Zhang ZP, You TT, Zou LY, Wu T, Wu Y, Cui L. Effect of
Danshen root compound on blood lipid and bone biomechanics in mice with
hyperlipemia-induced osteoporosis Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2008 Aug;28
(9):1550-3. [12] Wu BW, Pan TL, Leu YL, Chang YK, Tai PJ, Lin KH, Horng JT.
Antiviral effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) against enterovirus 71. Am J Chin
Med. 2007;35(1):153-68.

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