Vascular effects of different lipophilic components of "Danshen", a traditional Chinese medicine, in the isolated porcine coronary artery.
"Danshen" has been used for the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases in the People's Republic of China for many years. Two different forms of "Danshen" exist, with the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza being the traditional form and the roots of Salvia przewalskii being a surrogate used in the western areas of mainland China. The most abundant lipophilic diterpene quinones present in S. miltiorrhiza and S. przewalskii roots, tanshinone IIA (1) and cryptotanshinone (2), inhibited contraction of the isolated porcine coronary artery to the thromboxane A(2) analogue, U46619. Przewaquinone A (3), a lipophilic diterpene quinone present only in S. przewalskii, induced a similar but greater inhibitory action on vascular contraction than 1 and 2. This effect of 3 was endothelium-independent and reversible. The present results suggest that 3 is more potent than 1 and 2 and may contribute to a great extent to the ability of S. przewalskii roots to inhibit vascular contractions.
Department of Pharmacology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 2/F Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
Alan K S
AK
Wan
Susan W S
SW
Leung
Da-Yuan
DY
Zhu
Ricky Y K
RY
Man
D045784:Abietanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010618:Phenanthrolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011809:Quinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D034421:Sus scrofa
D045784:Abietanes; D004224:Diterpenes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008055:Lipids; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D010618:Phenanthrolines; D011809:Quinones; C567992:przewaquinone A; C021751:tanshinone; C028972:dan-shen root extract; C037886:cryptotanshinone