Abstract: The effects of water-soluble components isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza on oxygen free radical prodction and lipid peroxidation were estimated. Five components (10 μmol/L)were shown to inhibit superoxide anion generation by xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. It was also demonstrated that six components (100 μmol/L) prevented H2O2-induced hemolysis and MDA fonnation in mouse erythrocytes.The effects of Sal A, Sal B, Sal C and Ros A were dose dependent. In Langendorff rat heart, pretreatment with Sal A 20 μmol/L significantly prevented MDA production induced by 30 min reoxygenation after 45 min anoxia.The results indicated that there were also other potent antioxidant componentts in Salvia milliorrhiza besides Dphl and Pal. The protection of Sal A against myocardial anoxiareoxygenation inury may be mainly ascribed to its oxygen free radical scavenging activity.

Key words: Salvia miltiorrhiza, Salvianolic acid A, Myocardial anoxiareoxygenation, Free radicals, Lipid peroxide