Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae treatment results in decreased lipid peroxidation in reperfusion injury.

In our pervious investigations we have found that Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM) can reduce neurological deficits and ameliorate cellular damages, and its protective actions are associated with its effects on cerebral edema, monoamines, neuropeptides, neurotransmitter aminoacids, thromboxane A2, peroxidation and down-regulation of c-fos gene expression in ischemic animals. The purpose of present study was to investigate the protective effect of RSM against lipid peroxidation in 4-vessel occlusion and reperfusion rat model. We found that in RSM-treated rats the cerebral SOD activity is significantly increased, while the cerebral MDA level is significantly decreased when compared with untreated animals. The results suggested that RSM can reduce the lipid peroxidation and afford cerebroprotection against reperfusion injury.