Screening for the antiplatelet aggregation quality markers of Salvia yunnanensis based on an integrated approach.

This study aimed to identify the antiplatelet aggregation quality markers of Salvia yunnanensis (SY) based on an integrated approach. The effects of SY methanol extracts on platelet aggregation were measured to evaluate their in vitro biological activity. Chemical composition differences were determined by HPLC. Molecular docking methods were used to assess the action mechanism of the potential active compounds and target proteins in SY. The results showed that 12 batches of SY samples inhibited platelet aggregation. Sodium danshensu, protocatechuic aldehyde, rutin, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B, dihydrotanshinone I, tanshinone I, cryptotanshinone, and tanshinone IIA components were identified using chemical fingerprints. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that cryptotanshinone, dihydrotanshinone I, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and rosmarinic acid may have been the active components for antiplatelet aggregation, and molecular docking showed that these five components could combine with P2Y12 protein on platelets. Furthermore, platelet aggregation inhibition activity of the five monomers was verified separately and it was obvious that cryptotanshinone and rosmarinic acid inhibited platelet aggregation. Therefore, cryptotanshinone and rosmarinic acid may be the quality markers of SY. This report describes a comprehensive, scientific, and feasible method for SY quality evaluation and provides a preliminary scientific basis for applying the antithrombotic activity of SY.