title: Contents of four active components in different commercial crude drugs and preparations of danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the contents of four active components of Salvia miltiorrhiza in various commercially available danshen crude drugs and preparations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Commercially available danshen crude drugs from different sources, as well as danshen pills and intravenous injection preparations containing danshen alone or in combination with other herbs were collected. The composition of these danshen samples was analyzed using HPLC. Specifically, the amounts of magnesium tanshinoate B (MTB), danshensu, isotanshinone HA, and cryptotanshinone were determined. In some of these samples, the content of MTB was further confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS)/MS method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were great variations in the amount of the four active ingredients in the commercially available danshen crude drugs and drug preparations in this study. The amount of MTB was the highest among the four components measured in the crude drugs. However, the amounts of MTB in all danshen preparations were much lower than those in crude drugs. The 2 lipophilic components, isotanshinone HA and cryptotanshinone, were very low or not detectable in both injection and oral preparations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTB can be used to standardize the various forms of danshen crude drugs and drug preparations from different sources. In view of the variation in the amounts of MTB and other components, improvement in the production methods of danshen preparations is essential to ensure consistent amount of its active ingredients and reproducible pharmacological actions.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Xu Hui District Central Hospital, 966 Huai Hai Zhong Road, Shanghai 200031.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jing-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Susan Wai Sum
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Yaw Loong
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Siow
authors.forename: Ricky Ying Keung
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Da-Yuan
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D007267:Injections; D007773:Lactates / Q000032:analysis*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000032:analysis*; D010618:Phenanthrolines / Q000032:analysis*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D013607:Tablets / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007773:Lactates; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D010618:Phenanthrolines; D013607:Tablets; C035055:3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid; C037886:cryptotanshinone; C420242:magnesium tanshinoate B; D008274:Magnesium