Effect of the extract from salvia miltiorrhiza radix (SMR) on skeletal muscle ischemia and reperfusion injury in rabbits

The development of microsurgical techniques for replantation of amputated digits and limbs has led to longer periods of ischemia in the clinical setting. In addition, transplantation of skeletal muscle is employed to treat facial paralysis and Volkmann’s ischemic contracture. To restore function to replanted extremities and transplanted muscle, not only should the ischemic period be shorter than that required for successful replantation and transplantation, but also reperfusion injury of skeletal muscle should be avoided. White cell inhibitors, enriched substrates and controlled rates of reperfusion, or combinations of these, have been shown to improve muscle viability and recover potentially viable muscle, oxygen and hydroxyl radical scavengers after prolonged ischemia and variable periods of reperfusion (1-4). Salvia miltiorrhizae radix (Chinese crude drug named ‘danshen’) has been used in China as a therapeutic modality for