Endometriosis is a common mysterious and fascinating gynaecological condition with diverse clinical
manifestations, highly variable and unpredictable clinical course with decreased quality of life. Clinically,
Salvia miltiorrhiza
Bunge (SMB, Chinese
Danshen) has been applied to treat endometriosis and get satisfactory results. The present study was
aimed to explore the effects of the extracts of SMB (ESMB) on the serum levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) and the
levels of interleukin (IL)-13, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the peritoneal fluids of rat endometriosis
models. Three extraction methods for SMB were compared, which are the sample extracted with conventional method, the
sample extracted with espresso coffee machine and the commercial condensed powder of natural products. We determined
tanshinone IIA, salvianolic acid B and danshensu in the ESMB of different extraction methods. Forty female
Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into ESMB group, Danazol (positive control) group, model group and the
sham-operation group (Sham group). After all the treatment ended, the serum levels of CA125 and the levels of IL-13, IL-18
and TNF-alpha in the peritoneal fluids of rat endometriosis models were measured using enzyme-linked immune-sorbent
assay (ELISA) as directed by the manufacturer. The extraction efficiency of the ESMB samples extracted with coffee
machine ranged from 600μm to 710μm was the highest. The serum levels of CA-125 and the levels of IL-18 and TNF-alpha
in the peritoneal fluids of ESMB group, Danazol group and Sham group were significantly lower than those of the Model
group (
P<0.05). The serum levels of CA-125 and the levels of IL-18 and TNF-alpha in the peritoneal fluids of Danazol group
and ESMB group were significantly higher than those of Sham group, respectively (
P<0.05), and no marked difference
existed between them (
P>0.05). The levels of IL-13 in the peritoneal fluids of ESMB group, Danazol group and Sham group
were significantly higher than those of the Model group (
P<0.05). The levels of IL-13 in the peritoneal fluids of ESMB group
and Danazol group were significantly lower than those of Sham group (
P<0.05), and there was no marked difference between
ESMB group and Sham group (
P>0.05). ESMB shows promises in treating endometriosis by markedly decreasing the serum
levels of CA-125 and the levels of IL-18 and TNF-alpha in the peritoneal fluids and significantly increasing the levels of
IL-13 in the peritoneal fluids.
