A review of the mechanism of action of Dantonic® for the treatment of chronic stable angina

Chronic stable angina (CSA) presents as a complication of coronary heart disease, leading to a high incidence and mortality rate worldwide. Dantonic (R) or Compound Danshen Dripping Pills (CDDP) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of myocardial ischemic diseases, such as angina pectoris (AP), myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Dantonic (R) has been extensively utilized in clinical practice in China for more than 14 years and has proved to be an effective therapy for the treatment of many myocardial ischemic diseases since its approval by CFDA in 1994. Clinical studies in China have shown that Dantonic (R) is an effective and safe drug for the treatment of angina pectoris manifested with ameliorating anginal symptoms and showing few adverse effects. Nevertheless, the mechanism of Dantonic (R) for the treatment of angina has been underestimated. Therefore, in this review, we mainly focus on discussing the pharmacological mechanism of action (MoA) of Dantonic (R) for the treatment of CSA, including the promotion of coronary microcirculation, the optimization of myocardial energy metabolism, and the inhibition of platelet aggregation.