Salvia miltiorrhiza
(Dan shen)
Therapeutic Actions:
- Activates kallikrein-kinin system in the (rat) kidney to
promote production and secretion of prostaglandin E2, inducing
dilation of renal vascular system, an increase in renal blood flow
and glomerular filtration rate
- Antimicrobial
- Decreases blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine,
methylguanidine, guanidinosuccinic acid and inorganic phosphate
(in rat studies)
- Dilates coronary arteries
- Free radical scavenger - active oxygen has been shown to be
involved with proliferation of mesangial cells
- Inhibits platelet aggregation
- Increases coronary blood flow without affecting heart rate
- May ameliorate the development of HTN through excretion of
urinary sodium and by improving renal hemodynamics
- Preventive effects on development of respiratory distress
syndrome
- Prostaglandin E2 inhibits proliferation of mesangial cells (in
glomeruli) and acts antagonistically against vasoconstriction
brought about from Thromboxane A2
- Reduces accumulation of methylguanidine and guanidinosuccinic
acid levels - methylguanidine and guanidinosuccinic acid have been
reported to cause platelet dynfunction, hemolytic activity,
glucose metabolism disturbance and inhibition of lymphocyte
transformation
Clinical Indications:
Contraindications:
- Individuals taking blood coagulants should not use this herb
Drug/Nutrient Interaction:
- Increases warfarin activity due to the ability to inhibit platelet cAMP phosphodiesterase
Chemical Constituents:
- 1,2,15,16-tetrahydrotanshiquinone
- Cryptotanshinone
- Danshensu
- Danshexinkun B
- Dihydroisotanshone I
- Dihydrotanshinone I
- Diterpenoids
- Flavanone
- Hydroxytanshinone II-A
- Magnesium lithospermate B, a tetramer of caffeic acid
- Methylenetanshiquinone
- Methyltanshinonate
- Miltirone
- Nortanshinone
- Polyphenolic acids
- Protocatechuic aldehyde
- Tanshinone II A
Toxicity:
- Limited data - no known toxicity
Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).