Salvia Miltiorrhiza Extract’s active compounds are Tanshinones and Salvianolic Acids. They contain tanshinone IIA (≥2.5% content), which reduces inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α by 40% to 60% by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway (Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2021 study, n = 200). Clinical studies proved that the daily administration of 300 mg of the standardized extract (50 mg salvianolic acid B) improved microcirculation (25% improvement in capillary flow velocity) and reduced the volume of atherosclerotic plaque by 12.8% (ultrasound for 6 months).
Antioxidant effect is the primary mechanism. The oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC value) of salvianolic acid B was up to 18,000 μmol TE/g, 300% greater than that of vitamin E, and the scavenging ability of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2⁻) were 95% and 88% respectively (in vitro experiment, Journal of Antioxidants, 2023). In the management of diabetes, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Extract reduced fasting blood glucose by 15%-20% (animal model, dose 150mg/kg·day) through the activation of the AMPK pathway, and reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 1.2%-1.8% (clinical trials, The sample size was 120 participants for 12 weeks).
For liver protection, tanshinone I elevated glutathione (GSH) levels by 35% and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by 42% by activating the Nrf2 pathway (CTC induced rat liver injury model). In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), 500 mg/day extract with 10% cryptotanshinone reduced liver steatosis area by 28% (MRI-PDFF for 24 weeks) and reduced ALT enzyme activity by 22% (Gastroenterology 2022 study).
Anti-fibrosis activity was significant. Salvia Miltiorrhiza Extract inhibited TGF-β1 signaling, inhibited collagen deposition in pulmonary fibrosis model mice by 55% (hydroxyproline content detection), and inhibited renal interstitial fibrosis area by 40% (Masson staining). In cutaneous repair, topical application with 2% tanshinone promoted wound healing by 30% (diabetic mouse model, 14-day healing rate 92% vs. 65% of the control group).
In protection against the nervous system, salvianolic acid A has an A permeability of 18% across the blood-brain barrier (model in vitro), inhibits β-amyloid protein (Aβ1-42) aggregation effectiveness by 70% (thiotin T-fluorescence method), and delays cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease model mice (Morris water maze escape latency decrease by 40%). For ischemic stroke, intravenous administration of salvianolate (dose 20mg/kg) can reduce infarct volume by 42% (MRI-DWI detection, administration time window of 6 hours).
Regarding the market use, the global market size of Salvia Miltiorrhiza Extract will be expanded from $820 million in 2023 to $1.57 billion in 2030 (CAGR growth rate of 7.3%). The increased demand for cardiovascular and liver drugs (statistics from Grand View Research). The quality control should pass the standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (tanshinone IIA≥0.2%, salvianolic acid B≥3.0%), and the European EMA requires the residues of heavy metals <10ppm (lead <1ppm). Current market leaders such as Xi ‘an Tianyi Bio-have costs of production at US $120-150 per kg (98% purity), 60% lower than for synthetic drugs, but bioavailability optimization (for example, liposome encapsulation technology) can command a 300% price premium on the final product.