Abstract: The effects of copper stress on seedlings growth and active ingredients of Salvia miltiorrhiza were investigated. The results showed that copper stress inhibited seedlings growth, increased Cu²⁺ accumulation in both soil and seedlings. Moreover, a reduction in photosynthetic pigments and an increase in the levels of TBARS content of stressed seedlings showed that oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation were provoked. The effects of the treatment on active ingredients accumulations in above-ground parts and roots were different. In above-ground parts of copper stressed seedlings, the accumulations of caffeic acid, tanshinol and protocatechuic acid increased, while the contents of rosmarinic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde and salvianolic acid B decreased. However, the accumulations of both six phenolic acids and four tanshinone ingredients all decreased in stressed roots. All these results showed that copper stress had a toxic effect on both S.miltiorrhiza growth and 10 mainly active ingredients accumulations.

Key words: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, copper stress, growth, lipid peroxidation, active ingredients