Danshensu

Danshensu
Names
	IUPAC name (2R)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)lactic acid
	Other names Salvianic acid A
Identifiers
CAS Number	76822-21-4; Na salt: 67920-52-9;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image; Na salt: Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:71572;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL4218391;
ChemSpider	9775399;
ECHA InfoCard	100.231.388
EC Number	804-698-5; Na salt: 804-287-0;
KEGG	C22038;
PubChem CID	11600642; Na salt: 23711819;
UNII	4GF33A5PAJ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID60469215;
	InChI InChI=1S/C9H10O5/c10-6-2-1-5(3-7(6)11)4-8(12)9(13)14/h1-3,8,10-12H,4H2,(H,13,14)/t8-/m1/s1 Key: PAFLSMZLRSPALU-MRVPVSSYSA-N; Na salt: InChI=1S/C9H10O5.Na/c10-6-2-1-5(3-7(6)11)4-8(12)9(13)14;/h1-3,8,10-12H,4H2,(H,13,14);/q;+1/p-1 Key: ZMMKVDBZTXUHFO-UHFFFAOYSA-M;
	SMILES C1=CC(=C(C=C1C[C@H](C(=O)O)O)O)O; Na salt: C1=CC(=C(C=C1CC(C(=O)[O-])O)O)O.[Na+];
Properties
Chemical formula	C9H10O5
Molar mass	198.174 g·mol−1
Melting point	84–86 °C (183–187 °F; 357–359 K)
Related compounds
Related compounds	Protocatechuic acid
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Danshensu or salvianic acid A is an alpha hydroxy carboxylic acid. It is found in the plants Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Melissa officinalis. It is a component of some traditional Chinese medicine.

It was discovered in the water soluble extract of roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza. The substance can dissolve in water, methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetone. In practice the roots are extracted with boiling water. Then ethanol is added to bring the concentration up to %70 ethanal. This causes precipitation of protein, starch and polysaccharides. Chloroform then extracts coloured chemicals from the alcoholic solution.

Danshensu as a racemic form has been made from protocatechuic aldehyde.