Table 1 The effects of bioactive components from Danshen on major characteristics of AD

Salvianolic acid A

Inhibit Aβ aggregation and disaggregates Aβ fibrils [47]

Anti-Aβ-induced cytotoxicity [47]

Inhibit the activity of β-secretase in enzyme kinetic assay [48]

Inhibit the activity of GSK3β in enzyme kinetic assay [51]

Salvianolic acid B

Anti-Aβ-induced cytotoxicity [52, 53]

Reduce Aβ generation in cells [54, 55]

Down-regulate the expression of β-secretase in cells [54]

Up-regulate the expression of α-secretase in cells [54]

Inhibit the activity of GSK3β in enzyme kinetic assay [51]

Reduce the activity of GSK3β in cells [54]

Activate NRF2-mediated intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism [56]

Reduce abnormal increase of autophagy in in vivo [59]

Danshensu

Anti-Aβ-induced cytotoxicity [53]

Activate NRF2-mediated intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism [61]

Tanshinone I

Inhibit Aβ aggregation and disaggregates Aβ fibrils [64]

Anti-Aβ-induced cytotoxicity [64]

Activate NRF2-mediated intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism [65]

Tanshinone IIA

Inhibits Aβ aggregation and disaggregates Aβ fibrils [64]

Anti-Aβ-induced cytotoxicity [64, 66,67,68]

Reduce Aβ-induced memory decline and neuroinflammation in in vivo [69]

Reduce Aβ-induced p35/Cdk5 pathway [66]

Activate NRF2-mediated intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism [72]

Reduce abnormal increase of autophagy in in vitro [73]

Crytotanshinone

Inhibits Aβ aggregation [74]

Anti-Aβ-induced cytotoxicity [74]

Reduce Aβ-induced memory decline and neuroinflammation in in vivo [69]

Attenuate amyloid plaque deposition and the decrease of cognitive ability in APP/PS1 transgenic mice [76]

Up-regulate the expression of α-secretase in cells [77]