Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effect of Salviae miltiorrhizae on the number and paracrine effect of resident cardiac stem cell.METHODS: Mice were divided into three groups and received intragastric administration of high dose Salviae miltiorrhizae (5 g·kg^-1·d^-1), low dose Salviae miltiorrhizae (0.5 g·kg^-1·d^-1) or saline for one week. Blood was collected for analysis of blood routin test, liver and renal function. The number of resident Sca-1⁺ cardiac stem cells was detected by immunofluorescent staining and the expressions of VEGF, IL-6 and BAD in heart tissue were determined with Real-Time PCR .RESULTS: The number of white blood cell, red blood cell, platelet, liver and renal function showed no difference among the three groups (P>0.05),by intragastric administration for 1 week.Compared with the high dose Salviae miltiorrhizae group,the number of resident Sca-1⁺ cardiac stem cells and the expression of VEGF, IL-6 were decreased in low dose Salviae miltiorrhizae group and control group,there was statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Meanwhile, compared the other two groups ,the expression of BAD was decreased in the high dose Salviae miltiorrhizae group,there was statistically significant difference (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Salviae miltiorrhizae treatment can increase resident Sca-1⁺ cardiac stem cells number and improve paracrine function.

Key words: Salviae miltiorrhizae, Cardiac stem cell, Paracrine function