Salvia Miltiorrhiza Extract

Salvia miltiorrhiza extract, derived from the dried roots and rhizomes of the perennial herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is a complex phytochemical formulation widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine and increasingly recognized in global pharmacological research. The extract contains two major classes of bioactive compounds: lipophilic tanshinones—including tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone, and tanshinone I—and hydrophilic salvianolic acids, notably salvianolic acid B and danshensu. These constituents synergistically mediate its broad pharmacological profile, with tanshinones primarily responsible for anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumor effects, while salvianolic acids exhibit potent antioxidant, anticoagulant, and endothelial-protective activities. Mechanistically, tanshinone IIA modulates intracellular calcium flux and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor expression, whereas salvianolic acid B inhibits the TGF-β/Smad pathway, thereby attenuating fibrosis in liver and cardiovascular tissues. In cardiovascular applications, the extract demonstrates vasodilatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and myocardial protective effects through suppression of oxidative stress, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and upregulation of nitric oxide synthesis. Neuroprotective properties have been validated in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease, where salvianolic acids reduce amyloid-β aggregation and mitigate reactive oxygen species-induced neuronal damage. Modern extraction protocols typically involve ethanol or water-based reflux extraction followed by macroporous resin purification to enrich active constituents and remove polysaccharides and proteins, yielding standardized extracts with ratios such as 10:1 or 20:1. Quality control is ensured via TLC, HPLC, and UPLC-QTOF/MS for quantification of tanshinone IIA and salvianolic acid B, aligning with pharmacopeial standards.