Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42474759›Full record

ReviewNaunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology2026

Unraveling potent therapeutic potentials of tanshinones, lipophilic abietane diterpenes: a holistic literature review.

Shymaa I A Abdel-Dayem, Rania M Kamal, Heba R Ghaiad, Mariam K Ahmed, Aya H Eid, Ahmed M El-Dessouki, Ola Elazazy, Fatma Saeed El-Tokhy, Sally A Fahim, Riham A El-Shiekh and 1 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Shymaa I A Abdel-DayemPharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Street, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
Rania M KamalPharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Street, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
Heba R GhaiadDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
Mariam K AhmedDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
Aya H EidPharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo, Egypt.
Ahmed M El-DessoukiPharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, 6Th of October City, Ahram Canadian University, Giza, 12566, Egypt.
Ola ElazazyDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo, 11829, Egypt.
Fatma Saeed El-TokhyDepartment of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr CityCairo, 11829, Egypt.
Sally A FahimDepartment of Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, P.O. Box 12577, NewgizaGiza, Egypt.
Riham A El-ShiekhPharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Street, Cairo, 11562, Egypt. riham.adel@pharma.cu.edu.eg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3179-3352
Eman M Abd ElghanyPharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Street, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tanshinones, a class of lipophilic abietane-type diterpenoid, represents the major bioactive constituents of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen), a key herb in traditional Chinese medicine with growing therapeutic importance. This review offers an in-depth overview of tanshinones from phytochemical and pharmacological perspectives. The review outlines the biosynthetic pathway, highlights the key synthetic approaches, and provides a detailed chemical and stereochemical characterization of the major tanshinones isomers. Pharmacologically, tanshinones exhibit broad, multi-system activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular and hepatorenal protection, antitumor activity, immunomodulatory effects, and therapeutic benefits across neurological, metabolic, skeletal, respiratory, and infectious diseases. Despite their broad therapeutic potential, progression of tanshinones toward clinical application is restricted by low oral bioavailability, poor aqueous solubility, and rapid metabolism. To overcome these barriers, novel drug-delivery strategies including lipid nanocapsules, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, solid liquid nanoparticles, microemulsions, and nanoemulsions significantly improve solubility, stability, and pharmacokinetics. This review integrates the current evidence to guide future optimization and mechanistic exploration and support the development of innovative nanoformulations for next-generation tanshinone-based therapies.

Indexed as

Biological activitiesDrug discoveryPhytochemistryTanshinones

Identifiers

PMID42474759

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.