Danshen Gegen capsule for intermittent claudication in patients with peripheral arterial disease: abridged secondary publication
BPY Yan1, KP Fung2,3, P Chook4, JCM Koon2, JYW Chan2
1 Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
2 Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
3 School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
4 Centre for Clinical Trials on Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
 
 
1. We demonstrated in vitro dose-dependent vasodilation and angiogenesis responses to Danshen and Gegen via endotheliumindependent mechanism and involvement of inwardly rectifying K+ channels and Ca2+ channels.
2. We demonstrated an in vivo effect in functional limb recovery and in vitro improvement in blood micro-vessel density and blood perfusion responses to Danshen and Gegen in a limb ischaemic animal model.
3. Danshen and Gegen may be an effective treatment for patients with intermittent claudication, especially for those with severe symptoms compared with placebo. However, longer-term research in a larger population is needed to deteremine its safety and efficacy.