Danshen
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is a dietary supplement with 10 published peer-reviewed studies involving 680 participants, researched for Cardiovascular Health, Anti-Inflammatory, Neuroprotection.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Cardiovascular Health
StrongAnti-Inflammatory
WeakNeuroprotection
StrongResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Cardiovascular Health
To review compound Danshen dripping pill (CDDP) for coronary heart disease
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To review compound Danshen dripping pill (CDDP) for coronary heart disease
Dose
Various CDDP formulations
Participants
Multiple systematic reviews
Duration
Various
Results
CDDP demonstrated significant benefits for coronary heart disease including improved angina, ECG changes, and cardiovascular outcomes across multiple systematic reviews. PMID: 25582415
How They Measured It
Systematic review of systematic reviews on CDDP for CHD
To review Salvia miltiorrhiza pharmacology and clinical applications for cardiovascular disease
Study Type
Review
Purpose
To review Salvia miltiorrhiza pharmacology and clinical applications for cardiovascular disease
Dose
Various SM preparations
Participants
N/A
Duration
N/A
Results
SM demonstrated significant cardioprotective effects via anti-platelet aggregation, anti-fibrosis, vasodilation, and antioxidant mechanisms. Clinical evidence supports use in CHD, hypertension. PMCID: PMC6626924
How They Measured It
Clinical trials evidence review for CHD, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia
To assess Danshen dripping pill on angina pectoris in coronary heart disease
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To assess Danshen dripping pill on angina pectoris in coronary heart disease
Dose
10 pills three times daily (CDDP)
Participants
120 coronary heart disease patients
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Danshen significantly reduced angina frequency, nitroglycerin consumption, and improved ECG changes compared to conventional treatment alone.
How They Measured It
Angina frequency, nitroglycerin consumption, ECG
To evaluate Danshen injection on heart failure outcomes
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate Danshen injection on heart failure outcomes
Dose
Danshen injection 20 mL/day IV
Participants
80 patients with heart failure
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Danshen injection significantly improved LVEF, BNP, and exercise tolerance in heart failure patients compared to standard treatment alone.
How They Measured It
LVEF, BNP, NYHA class, 6-minute walk test
Anti-Inflammatory
To investigate Danshen on cardiac inflammation in heart failure via TLR4/MyD88 pathway
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To investigate Danshen on cardiac inflammation in heart failure via TLR4/MyD88 pathway
Dose
SM extract
Participants
Rats with experimental MI-induced heart failure
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Danshen restricted MD2/TLR4-MyD88 complex formation and signalling, significantly reducing cardiac inflammation and improving heart function. PMID: 32757377
How They Measured It
TLR4, MyD88, NF-kB, inflammatory cytokines, cardiac function
To assess Danshen injection on iron overload-induced cardiac damage
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To assess Danshen injection on iron overload-induced cardiac damage
Dose
Danshen injection
Participants
Mice with iron overload
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Danshen injection significantly reduced iron deposition, inhibited lipid peroxidation, and protected myocardial function in iron overload model. PMID: 23700113
How They Measured It
Cardiac histology, iron deposition, lipid peroxidation, heart function
To investigate tanshinone IIA (Danshen compound) on inflammatory pathways
Study Type
In vitro study
Purpose
To investigate tanshinone IIA (Danshen compound) on inflammatory pathways
Dose
Various concentrations
Participants
LPS-stimulated macrophage and endothelial cultures
Duration
N/A
Results
Tanshinone IIA significantly inhibited NF-kB activation, COX-2 expression, and inflammatory cytokine production, demonstrating potent anti-inflammatory activity.
How They Measured It
NF-kB, COX-2, inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated cells
Neuroprotection
To review Danshen neuroprotective properties in neurodegenerative diseases
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To review Danshen neuroprotective properties in neurodegenerative diseases
Dose
Various
Participants
N/A
Duration
N/A
Results
Danshen compounds including tanshinones and salvianolic acids demonstrated neuroprotective effects via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-amyloid mechanisms in multiple preclinical studies.
How They Measured It
Literature review of neurological outcomes
To investigate tanshinone IIA on cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease mouse model
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To investigate tanshinone IIA on cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease mouse model
Dose
20 mg/kg tanshinone IIA
Participants
APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Tanshinone IIA significantly improved spatial memory and reduced amyloid-beta load and oxidative stress in transgenic Alzheimer's mice.
How They Measured It
Morris water maze, amyloid-beta levels, oxidative stress
To evaluate Danshen in ischaemic stroke recovery and neuroprotection
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate Danshen in ischaemic stroke recovery and neuroprotection
Dose
Danshen injection 40 mL/day IV
Participants
120 acute ischaemic stroke patients
Duration
2 weeks
Results
Danshen injection significantly improved neurological deficit scores and functional recovery in ischaemic stroke patients vs standard treatment alone. PMID: 15926073
How They Measured It
NIHSS score, Barthel index, CT scan outcomes
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Danshen research
There are currently 10 peer-reviewed studies on Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), involving 680 total participants. Research covers Cardiovascular health, Anti-inflammatory, Neuroprotection. The overall evidence strength is rated as Very Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Very Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (6 human studies, 3 animal studies), and reported outcomes.
Danshen has been researched for: Cardiovascular health, Anti-inflammatory, Neuroprotection. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 6 out of 10 studies are human trials. The remaining 3 are animal studies. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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