Antagonism by salvianolic acid B of lipopolysaccharide‐induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in rabbits

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of salvianolic acid B on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in rabbits. Continuous infusion of LPS was used to induce a DIC model in rabbits. Treatment with salvianolic acid B (1, 3 or 6 mg/kg) was started simultaneously with LPS infusion (0.5 mg/kg LPS in 60 mL saline; 10 mL/h over a period of 6 h) through the contralateral marginal ear vein. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), platelet count and fibrinogen concentration were determined, as were plasma levels of fibrin–fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), protein C activity, antithrombin III (ATIII) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α concentration. The gradual impairment of haemostatic parameters was induced by continuous infusion of LPS. There were marked increases in APTT, PT, BUN, ALT and plasma TNF‐α and marked decreases in the platelet count, fibrinogen, FDP, protein C and ATIII. The intravenous administration of 1, 3 or 6 mg/kg salvianolic acid B attenuated the increases in APTT, PT, BUN, ALT and plasma TNF‐α and the decreases in fibrinogen, platelet, FDP, protein C and ATIII induced by LPS infusion. These observations indicate that salvianolic acid B has an effect against LPS‐induced DIC in rabbits.