AIM: To detect the contents of four active components of Salvia miltiorrhiza in various commercially available danshen crude drugs and preparations. METHODS: Commercially available danshen crude drugs from different sources, as well as danshen pills and intravenous injection preparations containing danshen alone or in combination with other herbs were collected. The composition of these danshen samples was analyzed using HPLC. Specifically, the amounts of magnesium tanshinoate B (MTB), danshensu, isotanshinone IIA, and ctyptotanshinone were determined. In some of these samples, the content of MTB was further confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS)/MS method. RESULTS: There were great variations in the amount of the four active ingredients in the commercially available danshen crude drugs and drug preparations in this study. The amount of MTB was the highest among the four components measured in the crude drugs. However, the amounts of MTB in all danshen preparations were much AIM: To detect the contents of four active components of Salvia miltiorrhiza in various market available danshen crude drugs and preparations. METHODS: Commercially available danshen crude drugs from different sources, as well as danshen pills and intravenous injection preparations containing danshen alone or in combination with Other herbs were collected. The composition of these danshen samples was analyzed using HPLC. Specifically, the amounts of magnesium tanshinoate B (MTB), danshensu, isotanshinone IIA, and ctyptotanshinone were determined. In some of these samples, the content of MTB was further. Confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS)/MS method. The amount of MTB was The highest among the four components measured in the crude drugs. However, the amounts of MTB in all danshen prep Arations were much