Contents of four active components in different commercial crude drugs and preparations of danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza).
Abstract
AIM: To detect the contents of four active components of Salvia miltiorrhiza in
various commercially available danshen crude drugs and preparations.
METHODS: Commercially available danshen crude drugs from different sources, as
well as danshen pills and intravenous injection preparations containing danshen
alone or in combination with other herbs were collected. The composition of these
danshen samples was analyzed using HPLC. Specifically, the amounts of magnesium
tanshinoate B (MTB), danshensu, isotanshinone HA, and cryptotanshinone were
determined. In some of these samples, the content of MTB was further confirmed by
liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS)/MS method.
RESULTS: There were great variations in the amount of the four active ingredients
in the commercially available danshen crude drugs and drug preparations in this
study. The amount of MTB was the highest among the four components measured in
the crude drugs. However, the amounts of MTB in all danshen preparations were
much lower than those in crude drugs. The 2 lipophilic components, isotanshinone
HA and cryptotanshinone, were very low or not detectable in both injection and
oral preparations.
CONCLUSION: MTB can be used to standardize the various forms of danshen crude
drugs and drug preparations from different sources. In view of the variation in
the amounts of MTB and other components, improvement in the production methods of
danshen preparations is essential to ensure consistent amount of its active
ingredients and reproducible pharmacological actions.
Keywords:
various commercially available danshen crude drugs and preparations.
METHODS: Commercially available danshen crude drugs from different sources, as
well as danshen pills and intravenous injection preparations containing danshen
alone or in combination with other herbs were collected. The composition of these
danshen samples was analyzed using HPLC. Specifically, the amounts of magnesium
tanshinoate B (MTB), danshensu, isotanshinone HA, and cryptotanshinone were
determined. In some of these samples, the content of MTB was further confirmed by
liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS)/MS method.
RESULTS: There were great variations in the amount of the four active ingredients
in the commercially available danshen crude drugs and drug preparations in this
study. The amount of MTB was the highest among the four components measured in
the crude drugs. However, the amounts of MTB in all danshen preparations were
much lower than those in crude drugs. The 2 lipophilic components, isotanshinone
HA and cryptotanshinone, were very low or not detectable in both injection and
oral preparations.
CONCLUSION: MTB can be used to standardize the various forms of danshen crude
drugs and drug preparations from different sources. In view of the variation in
the amounts of MTB and other components, improvement in the production methods of
danshen preparations is essential to ensure consistent amount of its active
ingredients and reproducible pharmacological actions.