ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect and mechanism of salvianolic acid B on isolated heart ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Forty-eight SD rats were divided into 6 groups randomly(n = 8): the control group, the positive administration group (verapamil 150 microg x L(-1)), and high, middle and low-dose salvianolic acid B groups (10, 5, 2.5 mg x L(-1)). The myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury model was established using the Langendorff method, re-perusing isolated working hearts for 30 min after ischemia for 25 min. A water-bag catheter was inserted in rat left atrium for recording the effect of salvianolic acid B on hemodynamics indexes-AST, LDH, SOD and MDA.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Various group with different doses showed that salvianolic acid B decreased AST, release of LDH and formation of MDA and increased SOD activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Salvianolic acid B showed a protective effect on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Its mechanism may be related with improvement of cardiac contractility, cleaning of oxygen free radicals and reduction of lipid peroxidation.</p>