**Analysis and Identification of Active Compounds from** *Salviae miltiorrhizae* **Radix Toxic to HCT-116 Human Colon Cancer Cells**

#### **Bohyung Kang 1, Sullim Lee 2, Chang-Seob Seo 3, Ki Sung Kang 4,\* and You-Kyung Choi 1,\***


Received: 23 January 2020; Accepted: 11 February 2020; Published: 14 February 2020

**Abstract:** Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. The aim of the present study was to simultaneously analyze compounds of *Salviae miltiorrhizae* Radix (SMR) and determine their cytotoxic effects on HCT-116 human colorectal cancer cells. We established a simultaneous analysis method of five compounds (salvianic acid A, salvianolic acid B, caffeic acid, tanshinone IIA, and rosmarinic acid) contained in SMR, and found that among the various compounds in SMR, tanshinone IIA significantly decreased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Hoechst staining also showed that both SMR and tanshinone IIA increased nuclear condensation, suggesting induction of apoptosis. By Western blotting, we found that tanshinone IIA induced apoptotic cell death, significantly increased Bax, but decreased Bcl-2 in the course of apoptosis. Tanshinone IIA increased the expression of cleaved caspases-7 and -8. Tanshinone IIA was shown to be an active ingredient of SMR that may be a useful chemotherapeutic strategy for patients with colorectal cancer.

**Keywords:** colorectal cancer; *Salviae miltiorrhizae* radix; apoptosis
