Study on therapeutic mechanism of total salvianolic acids against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental study

Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, also known as Danshen in Chinese, effectively activates the blood and resolves stasis. Total salvianolic acid (SA) is the main active ingredient of Danshen, and related preparations, such as salvianolate are commonly used clinically to treat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). However, the potential targets and key active ingredients of SA have not been sufficiently investigated. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of SA in treating MIRI. Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to predict SA targets against MIRI. The key pathways of SA were validated by establishing the MIRI animal model. Twenty potential ingredients and 54 targets of SA in treating MIRI were identified. Ingredient-target-pathway network analysis revealed that salvianolic acid B and rosmarinic acid had the highest degree value. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that SA may regulate MIRI through the IL-17 signaling pathway, and this result was confirmed in the rat MIRI experiment. The results of this study indicate that SA may protect MIRI by regulating the IL-17 pathway.