[Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with severe acute pancreatitis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on serum levels of cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).


METHODS
Thirty-six SAP patients were randomly divided into Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group and non-Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group with eighteen patients in each group. Fourteen age-matched healthy volunteers were assigned to control group. Serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha were tested within 24 hours of admission and 7 days after admission.


RESULTS
Compared with those of the healthy volunteers, serum levels of the three cytokines of the SAP patients were significantly elevated (P<0.05). Serum levels of the three cytokines were significantly decreased in both Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group and non-Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group after 7-day treatment (P<0.05). The declining of the serum levels of the three cytokines in Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group was more obvious than that in non-Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
Salvia miltiorrhiza can treat SAP patients by reducing the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha.
Peng
Guo-lin
GL
Department of Gastroenterology, Yingtan 184 Hospital, Yingtan, Jiangxi Province 335000, China. pguolin@163.com
Zhang
Xiao-yun
XY
D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha