Danshensu is a salvianolic acid and the major component of S. miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and has diverse biological activities. It reduces expression of the autophagy-associated proteins p62, LC3-II, and Beclin-1 and the apoptosis-related proteins Bax and caspase-3, prevents cardiomyocyte damage, and increases heart rate, coronary flow (CF), and left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) in an isolated rat heart model of ischemia and reperfusion injury. Danshensu (60 mg/kg per day) reduces infarct size and improves left ventricular function in a rat model of myocardial infarction. It enhances radiation-induced tumor cell death in a Lewis lung carcinoma mouse xenograft model. Danshensu also decreases infarct volume, neuronal apoptosis, production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in a rat model of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury.
