Isolation of the Active Component Having the Uremia-Preventive Effect from Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Extract

Abstract

An attempt was made to isolate the active component which exhibits the improving effect on uremic symptoms from Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix. Systematic isolation from the aqueous extract of Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix was carried out and the effects of the fractions were assessed in terms of an index of decrease in blood urea nitrogen. It was found that one of the major blood urea nitrogen-decreasing components was compound I. Compound I, which was considered to be a tetramer of (dihydro) caffeic acid, showed improving effects on uremic symptoms, causing significant decreases in blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, methylguanidine, and guanidinosuccinic acid.