Danshenol A has strong aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory activity, has IC50 of 0.10 microM which is comparable to that of epalrestat in clinical use. Danshenol A also has antitumor activity in T-24, QGY, K562, Me180 and BIU87 cell lines, shows inhibited growth of K562 (IC50 = 0.53 μg mL), T-24 (IC50 = 7.94 μg mL), QGY (IC50 = 4.65 μg mL) and Me180 (IC50 = 6.89 μg mL) cell lines.
Fidarestat is an aldose reductase inhibitor (IC50s: 26 nM, 33 μM, and 1.8 μM for aldose reductase, AKR1B10, and V301L AKR1B10, respectively). It has the potential to treat diabetic disease.