Abstract: The lipolytic components of Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) were elucidated as a group of diterpene quinones such as tanshinone Ⅰ, tanshinone ⅡA and cryptotanshinone. These compounds were found to increase the resistance of mice to hypoxia in pharmacological tests. Since the activity of these lipolytic components may be due to the presence of the quinone structure, some derivatives with latent quinones have been synthesized. Pharmacological investigations revealed that the biological activity was comparatively weakened.Furthermore, the water soluble sodium sulphonate derivative of tanshinone ⅡA was more active against coronary disease in clinical trial with some side effects. A series of water soluble Mannich bases derived from tanshinones were also prepared. Preliminary pharmacological examination showed that one of them Xa exhibited high bacteriostatic activity against staphylococcus aureus species 18.