Abstract
Our previous study indicated that Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) induced human placenta‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPDMSCs) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, however, the effective component of SM in promoting cardiomyogenic differentiation remained to be elucidated. In the present study, the most commonly examined components of SM, including danshensu, salvianolic acid B, protocatechuic aldehyde, tanshinone I (TS I), TS IIA and cryptotanshinone, were used to determine the effective components of SM in promoting cardiomyogenic differentiation. The above components of SM slowed cell growth rate and altered cell morphology with a spindle or irregular shape to different degrees. The cells treated with the above components of SM showed increasing of cardiac protein expression to differing degrees, including GATA‑binding protein 4, atrial natriuretic factor, α‑sarcomeric actin and cardiac troponin‑I. Among the components of SM, TS IIA induced the most marked effects. In addition, the above components of SM increased the expression of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase‑3β, but decreased the expression of β‑catenin to different degrees, with TS IIA also having the most marked effects. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that TS IIA was the most effective active component of SM in inducing hPDMSCs to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, and that Wnt/β‑catenin signaling was important in the process of TS IIA promoting cardiomyogenic differentiation.