Danshen is a
traditional Chinese medicine with many beneficial effects on
cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms responsible for the antiatherogenic effect of water soluble Danshen extracts (DEs). Rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with DE. To evaluate the effects of DE in vivo, carotid balloon injury and tail vein
thrombosis were induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and iliac artery
stent was induced in New Zealand white rabbits. The inhibitory action of DE on platelet aggregation was confirmed with an impedance aggregometer. DE inhibited the production of
reactive oxygen species, and the migration and proliferation of
platelet-derived growth factor-BB stimulated VSMCs. Furthermore, DE prevented
inflammation and apoptosis in HUVECs. Both effects of DE were reconfirmed in both rat models. DE treatment attenuated platelet aggregation in both in vivo and ex vivo conditions. Pretreatment with DE prevented tail vein
thrombosis, which is normally induced by κ-
carrageenan injection. Lastly, DE-treated rabbits showed decreased in-
stent restenosis of stented iliac arteries. These results suggest that water soluble DE modulates key atherogenic events in VSMCs, endothelial cells, and platelets in both in vitro and in vivo conditions.