Abstract
Danshen, the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, is a Chinese medicine used to promote blood flow and treat vascular disease. The present article reviews the pharmacological effects of Danshen on cerebral infarction and possible interactions between Danshen and Western drugs. Danshen may reduce or prolong the development of atherosclerosis and may have anti-hypertensive and anti-platelet aggregation effects, which prevent cerebral infarction. Danshen may enhance endogenous anti-oxidative enzyme activities such as the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and may scavenge oxygen free radicals. Prevention and treatment of cerebral infarction by Danshen involves multiple pathways, including anti-atherosclerosis, anti-hypertension, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects.
Highlights
Danshen, the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, is used in Chinese medicine to treat vascular disease
Cerebral infarction is an ischemic condition of the brain including thrombosis, embolism or systemic hemodynamic hypotension
Cerebral infarction is often caused by atherosclerosis of large and small arteries
Summary
The dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, is used in Chinese medicine to treat vascular disease. Danshen reduces CD18 and CD11b immunoreactive cells in the peri-vascular region and inhibits leukocyte infiltration and neuronal death in the cerebral infarction region in the ischemia-reperfusion MCAo rat model. A study on the effects of Danshen on inflammatory response in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury in the MCAo rat model indicates that pre-treatment with Tanshinone IIA reduces the cerebral infarction area, neurological deficit score and cerebral edema. As pre-treatment with Tanshinone IIA reduces TNF-α, the myeloperoxidase (MPO) marker of leukocytes, E-selectin and ICAM-1 in ischemic brain tissue and serum IL-8, Danshen may inhibit inflammatory responses to reduce brain damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats [41]. Pretreatment with Danshen may reduce brain edema and MDA concentration of cerebral cortex and hippocampus region in an ischemia-reperfusion injured rat model while Danshen may increase levels of catalase, SOD, GSH and ATP of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus region [52]. The scavenging capabilities of Danshen and Sanqi are quite different among the various free radicals [60]
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