Effects of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix on Surgically Induced Endometriosis in Rats

단참(丹參)이 자궁내막증(子宮內膜症) 백서(白鼠)에 미치는 영향

Purpose : Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix is a herb with an effect on extravasated blood and is widely used in gynecology. This study examine, the effects of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix on endometriosis. Methods : Rats with surgically induced endometriosis were administered Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix for 40 days. The size of the ectopic uterine implants at the serosal wall and the concentration of progesterone, estradiol, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-2, 4, 6 and 10 in the blood were examined and compared with the control group. Results : The size of the ectopic uterine implants in the treated group was much smaller than that in the control group. The estradiol concentration was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. The IL-10 level was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The TNF-${\alpha}$ level was lower in the experimental group than in the control group but the difference was not significant. The progesterone, IL-2, 4, 6 levels were similar in the experimental and control groups. Conclusion : These results indicate that Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix reduces the size of ectopic uterine implants at the serosal wall and inhibits the growth of ectopic uterine implants. This suggests that Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix is an effective treatment for endometriosis.