title: Neuroprotective effects of tanshinones in transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice.
abstract: Tanshinones are the major lipid soluble pharmacological constituents of Danshen, the dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae), a well known traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases including stroke. Potential neuroprotective effects of tanshinones IIA (TsIIA) and IIB (TsIIB) were examined in adult mice subjected to transient focal cerebral ischemia caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Our results revealed that TsIIA (16 mg/kg) readily penetrated the blood brain barrier reaching a peak concentration of 0.41 nmol/g brain wet weight 60 minutes after intraperitoneal injection and decreased slowly over several hours. Twenty-four hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion, brain infarct volume was reduced by 30% and 37% following treatment with TsIIA and TsIIB, respectively. The reduction in brain infarct volume was accompanied by a significant decrease in the observed neurological deficit. Tanshinones or other structurally related compounds may have potential for further development as neuroprotective drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Molecular Neuroscience Center and Biotechnology Research Institute, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: B Y H
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: A C Y
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sucher
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D000925:Anticoagulants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; C021751:tanshinone