Plant Growth and the Contents of Major Bioactive Compounds of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge Grown in Mississippi, United States

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (danshen) is a traditional herbal medicine and has been widely used to prevent treat cardiovascular other diseases. Currently, the majority of medicinal plants, including danshen, in United States are imported from foreign countries, which often involves challenges such as inconsistency contents bioactive compounds inadequate supply high quality plant materials meet market demand. The objective this study was evaluate growth major three selected danshen cultivars identify with greatest potential for commercial production Mississippi. Results showed that plants can grow well Mississippi evaluated had similar indices, leaf SPAD values, photosynthetic activities, shoot root dry weights, numbers, but differed germination rates, maximum lengths, diameters. extracts, tanshinone I, IIA, cryptotanshinone, salvianolic acid B, were quantified no significant difference their among cultivars. suggested be grown an alternative crop Mississippi, USA.