This article presents an integrated overview of GuanxinⅡ(冠心Ⅱ号)regarding its quality control,pharmacokinetics,pharmacology,clinical studies,adverse events,dosage and administration,and its pharmacoeconomic assessment.It has been demonstrated that GuanxinⅡhas beneficial effects on coronary heart disease(CHD).The underlying mechanism was proved to be its anti-ischemic,anti-apoptotic,antioxidative, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory effects,and so on.Tanshinol,hydroxysafflor yellow A and ferulic acid might be responsible for the cardioprotective effect of GuanxinⅡ.In terms of acquisition cost,GuanxinⅡis cheaper than other drugs currently available for CHD.GuanxinⅡis safe,cheap,and effective in the management of CHD.However,the mechanism of its cardioprotective effects has not been completely understood because of limitations in the research methodologies of Chinese medicine.Further work should be carried out with single components such as tanshinol,hydroxysafflor yellow A and ferulic acid,using modern biochemical and molecular methods.
