Background:

Danshensu, an active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza, shows wide cardiovascular benefit by activating Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Danshensu (DSS) significantly decreases the level of the marker enzymes (creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase) from the coronary effluents and myocardial infarction size. This could markedly contribute to the recovery of cardiac function after I/R injury. DSS also has ROS scavenging activity and boosts endogenous antioxidants such as SOD, CAT, MDA, GSH-PX and HO-1 activities by activating nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway which is mediated by Akt and ERK1/2 in western blot analysis[2].

Acute treatment with a single dose of danshensu in rats with normal tHcy does not change plasma tHcy. In contrast, danshensu significantly lowers tHcy in rats with elevated tHcy. The relatively higher cysteine and glutathione levels after treatment with danshensu indicates that its tHcy-lowering effect is via increased activity of the trans-sulphuration pathway[1].

[1]. YG Cao, et al. Beneficial effects of danshensu, an active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on homocysteine metabolism via the trans-sulphuration pathway in rats. Br J Pharmacol. 2009 Jun; 157(3): 482-490. [2]. Yu J, et al. Danshensu protects isolated heart against ischemia reperfusion injury through activation of Akt/ERK1/2/Nrf2 signaling. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Sep 15;8(9):14793-804.