Treatment of diabetic nephropathy and microalbuminuria

摘要

Diabetic nephropathy and microalbuminuria are treated with the herb Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix. In one embodiment, the method includes boiling the herb to form an aqueous extract. The aqueous extract is administered to the diabetic individual to treat diabetic nephropathy or to an individual exhibiting microalbuminuria. Alternatively the method can include administering a salt of lithospermic acid extracted from the herb. The method can include determining the level of protein in urine before, during and/or after administering the aqueous extract or a salt of lithospermic acid.