title: Protective effects of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) on adriamycin-induced cardiac and hepatic toxicity in rats.
abstract: The present study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of Danshen (DS, Salvia miltiorrhiza) on adriamycin (ADR)-induced cardiac and hepatic toxicity. Wistar rats were divided into six groups: control group, 10 animals received saline (i.p.); 15 animals received ADR (3 mg/kg, i.p.) three times weekly, for 2 weeks; 10 animals each received DS(1) (20 mg/kg, oral) and DS(2) (100 mg/kg, oral) for 30 days; 15 animals each received DS(1) + ADR and DS(2) + ADR. The ADR-induced cardiac and hepatic toxicity and protective action of DS were determined and quantitated with the use of hemodynamic measurements, biochemical analyses of serum, synthesis rates of DNA, RNA and protein, myocardial antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and histopathological procedure. Liver function was damaged. Nucleic acid as well as protein synthesis was inhibited, while lipid peroxidation was increased. Myocardial glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and superoxide dismutase activities (SOD) were decreased and histopathology revealed myocardial lesions indicative of ADR-induced cardiac and hepatic toxicity. In contrast, administration of DS before and concurrent with ADR significantly attenuated these effects. In conclusion, DS is potentially protective against ADR-induced cardiac and hepatic toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Chang Gung University School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kweishan, Taiwan, China. y0606@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Jyh-Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Tai-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ying-Shiung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004317:Doxorubicin