An Optimal Combination of Chemically Pure Compounds from Salvia miltiorrhiza for Inhibiting Cell Proliferation

OBJECTIVE: Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) is a traditional Chinese medicine used clinically to treat cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. Its therapeutic effect has been confirmed by many clinical and pharmacological studies. However, the optimal formulation of active ingredients in SM for treating cardiovascular diseases remains unclear. In this study, we determined the ratio of the optimal compatibility of SM ingredients DSS, Sal-A, Sal-B, and PAL (SABP)with a uniform and orthogonal optimized experimental design. In addition, we determined the anti-oxidation effect of SABP using Adventitial Fibroblasts (AFs). METHODS: By using a combination of uniform and orthogonal designs, we determined the optimal formulation of aqueous extract from SM. MTT assay was used to determine the inhibitory effects of these 4 components of SM on the AFs, which were isolated and cultured from the aorta. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in AFs was compared before and after SABP treatment. RESULTS: The optimal formulation of these 4 aqueous extracts from SM were 150 : 7 : 300 : 500, and their concentrations were S(1.5×10-4 mol/L), A(7×10-6 mol/L), B(3×10-4 mol/L), and P(5×10-4 mol/L). There were some synergies between these 4 components. Moreover, SABP decreased ROS production in AFs. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that SABP inhibits the proliferation and oxidation stress in AFs. The present study provides new evidence that the efficacy and function generated from the optimal formulation of active ingredients in SM are better than lyophilized powder of SM.