Pharmacological actions of sodium ferulate in cardiovascular system.

Sodium ferulate (SF) or 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-cinamate sodium is an active principle from Angelica sinensis, Cimicifuga heracleifolia, Lignsticum chuangxiong, and other plants. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and is approved by State Drugs Administration of China as a drug for treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. SF has antithrombotic, platelet aggregation inhibitory and antioxidant activities in animals and humans. For several decades SF has been widely used in China to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and to prevent thrombosis. Exciting clinical results have been obtained with SF in coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, pulmonary heart disease and thrombosis. Its safety and efficacy have been demonstrated in clinical practice. This article briefly reviews basic pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and clinical pharmacology of SF. The in vitro and in vivo data support the view that SF is a useful drug for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.