Effect of salvianolic acids from Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae on regional cerebral blood flow and platelet aggregation in rats.

Summary This study was conducted to observe the effect of salvianolic acids (SA) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in rats and on platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo . Cerebral ischemia was produced in rats by occluding of the right middle cerebral artery, together with the right common carotid artery. rCBF was monitored by H 2 clearance method with a tissue blood-flow meter. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP, and AAwas measured in vitro and in vivo by platelet aggregometer. Doses of SAat 6 and 10 mg/kg body wt. (i.v.) improved rCBFin rats after ischemia, but had no obvious effect on normal rCBF. In vitro , SAinhibited significantly the platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP, and AAwith IC 50 values of 0.197, 2.22 and 3.29 × 10 3 mg/l, respectively. In vivo , doses of SAat 6 and 10 mg/kg body wt. inhibited significantly the platelet aggregation induced by collagen, and SAat 10 mg/kg body wt. inhibited remarkably platelet aggregation induced by ADP. The results suggest that SA could improve rCBFin the ischemic hemisphere and inhibit platelet aggregation in rats.