Salvia miltiorrhiza adjuvant therapy facilitates cardiac function recovery in patients with myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI), a leading cause of global mortality, often leads to heart failure and impaired quality of life. This randomized controlled trial evaluated Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), a traditional Chinese herb containing bioactive compounds like tanshinone IIA and salvianolic acid A, as an adjunct therapy for acute MI. SM is known for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticoagulant and microcirculatory benefits. In the study, 120 MI patients were divided into two groups: routine treatment (RT) and RT plus SM injection. After two weeks, the SM group demonstrated significantly increased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and reduced left ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic diameters (LVESD, LVEDD) compared to RT (P<0.001). Hemodynamic parameters—cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), and stroke volume (SV) also improved markedly in the SM group. Additionally, SM enhanced vascular endothelial function and lowered serum markers of myocardial injury. These findings suggest SM supplementation synergizes with conventional therapies to accelerate cardiac functional recovery and hemodynamic stabilization in MI patients. The study highlights SM’s potential as a safe, effective adjuvant treatment for MI, warranting further clinical exploration.