In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), DHT (10 nM) decreases lectin-like ox-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, NF-κB nuclear translocation, ox-LDL endocytosis and monocytes adhesion. Dihydrotanshinone I induces caspase dependent apoptosis induced in HCT116 cells. Dihydrotanshinone I induces concentration and ROS dependent caspase activation. Apoptosis induced by Dihydrotanshinone I is completely prevented by Z-VAD-fmk. Apoptosis induced by Dihydrotanshinone I is significantly inhibited by pretreatment of Z-LEHD-fmk but only is partially inhibited by Z-IETD-fmk. Apoptosis induced by Dihydrotanshinone I is significantly increased by caspase-2 knockdown.

DHT (10 and 25 mg/kg) significantly attenuates atherosclerotic plaque formation, alteres serum lipid profile, decreases oxidative stress and shrinks necrotic core areas in ApoE ^-/- mice. DHT dramatically inhibits the enhanced expression of LOX-1, NOX4, and NF-κB in aorta. Dihydrotanshinone I (1, 2, 4 mg/kg) treatment can improve cardiac function, reduce infarct size, ameliorate the variations in myocardial zymogram and histopathological disorders, decrease 20-HETE generation, and regulate apoptosis-related protein in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion rats.