Propagation of Salvia miltiorrhiza from hairy root explants via somatic embryogenesis and tanshinone content in obtained plants

•We first regenerated plants from hairy roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza via somatic embryogenesis.•The regenerated plants showed some phenotypic changes and increased biomass.•The total tanshinone contents in roots of the regenerated plants raised by 79.5% compared to that of wide type-plants.•The gene expression of both 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA redutase and 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase was improved in the roots.