Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is derived from the dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a traditional Chinese medicine. Although Salvia miltiorrhiza has been applied for many years, the toxicity of the mono-constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza, tanshinone IIA, is still understudied. This study evaluated the cardiotoxicity and developmental malformations of Tan-IIA by using zebrafish normal embryos and dechorionated embryos. After treatment with Tan-IIA in different concentrations for four-day periods, obvious pericardial edema, spinal curvature, and even missing tails were observed in zebrafish embryos. The LC₅₀ values in the dechorionated embryo group at 72 h post-fertilization (hpf) and 96 hpf were 18.5 μM and 12.8 μM, respectively, and the teratogenicity was manifested at a concentration of about 1 µM. The main endpoints of teratogenicity were scoliosis, malformation of tail, and pericardium edema. Our findings displayed the potential cardiotoxicity and severe impact on the abnormal development of Tan-IIA in zebrafish embryo at high concentrations, which may help avoid the risk of its clinical application.

Addition of NA rescued the inhibitory activity of LSN3154567.

Tanshinone IIA is derived from the dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a traditional Chinese medicine. Although Salvia miltiorrhiza has been applied for many years, the toxicity of the mono-constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza, tanshinone IIA, is not been fully studied. In vitro analysis of the teratogenicity and embryo lethality of tanshinone IIA have been evaluated by using zebrafish embryos of removing chorions. After treated zebrafish embryos with tanshinone IIA for 4 days periods, the results showed that tanshinone IIA have teratogenic and lethal effects in zebrafish embryos. The LC₅₀ value is 15.1 µM, and when the concentration is beyond 20 µM, teratogenicity is manifested. The main endpoints of teratogenicity are scoliosis, malformation of tail, growth retardation, and pericardium edema. This study suggested the safe dose of tanshinone IIA might be low.