Shenfu injection: a review of pharmacological effects on cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Shenfu injection (SFI), composed of ginseng and aconite, is a Chinese patent developed from the classic traditional prescription Shenfu Decoction created more than 700 years ago. SFI has been widely used in China for over 30 years for treating cardiovascular diseases. The main components in it include ginsenosides and aconitum alkaloids. In recent years, the role of SFI in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has attracted much attention. The pharmacological effects and therapeutic applications of SFI in cardiovascular diseases are summarized here, highlighting pharmacological features and potential mechanisms developments, confirming that SFI can play a role in multiple ways and is a promising drug for treating cardiovascular diseases.

Shenfu injection improves isoproterenol-induced heart failure in rats by modulating co-metabolism and regulating the trimethylamine-N-oxide - inflammation axis

“…The content of ginsenosides is 676-742 μg/mL, and the content of aconite alkaloids Frontiers in Pharmacology frontiersin.org is 3-7 μg/mL (Song et al, 2015). Aconite has certain toxicity, but the combination of aconite and ginseng exhibits a "detoxifying and enhancing efficacy" effect (Xu et al, 2024). Ginsenosides can promote the metabolism of toxic components like aconitine, prolonging the elimination half-life of aconitine, benzoylmesaconine, and hypaconitine, thereby significantly increasing the exposure of effective components in the body.…”

Table2.XLSX

“…The content of ginsenosides is 676-742 μg/mL, and the content of aconite alkaloids Frontiers in Pharmacology frontiersin.org is 3-7 μg/mL (Song et al, 2015). Aconite has certain toxicity, but the combination of aconite and ginseng exhibits a "detoxifying and enhancing efficacy" effect (Xu et al, 2024). Ginsenosides can promote the metabolism of toxic components like aconitine, prolonging the elimination half-life of aconitine, benzoylmesaconine, and hypaconitine, thereby significantly increasing the exposure of effective components in the body.…”

Table4.CSV

“…The content of ginsenosides is 676-742 μg/mL, and the content of aconite alkaloids Frontiers in Pharmacology frontiersin.org is 3-7 μg/mL (Song et al, 2015). Aconite has certain toxicity, but the combination of aconite and ginseng exhibits a "detoxifying and enhancing efficacy" effect (Xu et al, 2024). Ginsenosides can promote the metabolism of toxic components like aconitine, prolonging the elimination half-life of aconitine, benzoylmesaconine, and hypaconitine, thereby significantly increasing the exposure of effective components in the body.…”