Download PDF
Planta Med 2000; 66(4): 348-351
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-8552
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Study of the Gastrointestinal Protective Effects of Polysaccharides from Angelica sinensis in Rats

C.  H. Cho1,* , Q.  B. Mei2 , P. Shang2 , S.  S. Lee3 , H.  L. So1 , X. Guo1 , Y. Li1
  • 1 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  • 2 Department of Pharmacology, the 4th Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
  • 3 Department of Biochemistry, National Yang Ming University, Taiwan
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

We studied the protective effects of polysaccharides isolated from the root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) (Danggui) on gastrointestinal damage induced by ethanol or indomethacin in rats. Oral administration of ethanol provoked a marked hemorrhagic damage in the glandular mucosa, which was accompanied with a significant increase of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, a marker enzyme for inflammation and neutrophil infiltration. An extract from Angelica, which mainly consisted of polysaccharides (95 %) (AP), dose-dependently prevented gastric mucosal damage. This ulcer protective effect could last at least 12 h after administration. Prostaglandin E2 produced a similar anti-lesion effect. AP and prostaglandin E2 also reduced mucosal MPO activity. Indomethacin-induced gastrointestinal damage, another neutrophil-dependent lesion model in the gastrointestinal tract, was also prevented by AP pretreatment. The present findings suggest that polysaccharides from Angelica possess an anti-inflammatory action, perhaps through the inhibitory action on neutrophil infiltration in the gastrointestinal mucosa. AP could potentially be useful to prevent any neutrophil-dependent mucosal injury in the gastrointestinal tract.

Key words

Angelica sinensis - Apiaceae - polysaccharides - ethanol - indomethacin - gastric damage - myeloperoxidase

References

  • 1 Chou  Y P,, Huang  L Y,, Fan  L L,, Chang  L Y,, Zeng  K Y.. The effect of Angelica sinensis on hemodynamics and myocardiac oxygen consumption in dogs.  Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 1979;;  14 156-60
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Pen  R X,, Yang  D Z,, Yi  Q,, Yu  P,, Liu  W W,, Dang  W J,, Xiao  D F.. Pharmacological effects of Danggui (Angelica sinensis) on cardiovascular system.  China Traditional Herb Drugs. 1981;;  12 321-4
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Mei  Q B,, Tao  J Y,, Zhang  H D,, Duan  Z X,, Chen  Y Z.. Effects of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides on hemopoietic stem cells in irradiated mice.  Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 1988;;  9 279-82
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Sun  X B,, Matsumoto  T,, Yamada  H.. Anti-ulcer activity and mode of action of the polysaccharide fraction from the leaves of Panax ginseng. .  Planta Medica. 1992;;  58 432-5
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Shang  P,, Mei  Q B,, Cho  C H.. Analysis of Angelica polysaccharides constituents by high performance liquid chromatography.  Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2000;  (in press)
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Alsop  R M,, Vlachogiannis  G J.. Determination of the molecular weight of clinical dextran by gel permeation chromatography.  Journal of Chromatography. 1982;;  246 227-40
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Dubois  M,, Gilles  K A,, Hamiltion  J K,, Rebers  P A,, Smith  F.. Colorimetic method for determination of sugar and related substances.  Analytical Chemistry. 1956;;  28 350-6
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Dische  Z.. A new specific color reaction of hexuronic acids.  Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1947;;  167 189-98
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Read  S M,, Northcote  D H.. Minimization of variation in the response to different proteins of the Coomassie blue G dye-binding assay for protein.  Analysis of Biochemistry. 1981;;  116 53-64
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Cho  C H,, Chen  B W,, Hui  W M,, Luk  C T,, Lam  S K.. Endogenous prostaglandins: its role in gastric mucosal blood flow and ethanol ulceration in rats.  Prostaglandins. 1990;;  40 397-403
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Chow  J YC,, Ma  L,, Zhu  M,, Cho  C H.. The potentiating action of cigarette smoke on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats.  Gastroenterology. 1997;;  113 1188-97
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Lowry  O H,, Rosebrough  N J,, Farr  A L,, Rabdall  R J.. Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent.  Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1951;;  193 265-75
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Cho  C H,, Chen  B W,, Hui  W M,, Lam  S K,, Ogle  C W.. The role of the vagus nerve in the protective action of acid inhibitors on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats.  Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 1992;;  7 178-83
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Li  Y,, Mei  Q B,, Cho  C H.. Healing effects of heparin on acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats.  Chinese Medical Journal. 1998;;  111 12-6
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Wallace  J L.. Glucocorticoid-induced gastric mucosal damage: inhibition of leukotriene, but not prostaglandin biosynthesis.  Prostaglandins. 1987;;  34 (2) 311-23
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Bou-Abboud  C F,, Wayland  H,, Paulsen  G,, Guth  P H.. Microcirculatory stasis precedes tissue necrosis in ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in the rat.  Digestive Disease and Science. 1988;;  33 872-7
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Tanaka  J,, Yuda  Y.. Role of lipid peroxidation in gastric mucosal lesions induced by ischemia-reperfusion in the pylorus-ligated rat.  Biological Pharmacological Bulletin. 1993;;  16 (1) 29-32
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Tepperman  B L,, Besco  J M,, Kiernan  J A,, Soper  B D.. Relationship between myeloperoxidase activity and the ontogenic response of rat gastric mucosa to ethanol.  Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 1991;;  69 (12) 1882-8
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Alican  I,, Coskun  T,, Corak  A,, Yegen  B C,, Oktay  S,, Kurtel  H.. Role of neutrophils in indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats.  Inflammation Research. 1995;;  44 164-8
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Wallace  J L,, Keenan  C M,, Granger  D N.. Gastric ulceration induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is a neutrophil-dependent process.  American Journal of Physiology. 1990;;  259 (3 Pt 1) G462-7
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Wallace  J L,, Arfors  K E,, McKnight  G W.. A monoclonal antibody against the CD18 leukocyte adhesion molecule prevents indomethacin-induced gastric damage in the rabbit.  Gastroenterology. 1991;;  100 878-83
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Wallace  J L,, McKnight  W,, Miyasak  M,, Tamatani  T,, Paulson  J,, Anderson  D C,, Granger  D N,, Kubes  P.. Role of endothelial adhesion molecules in NSAID-induced gastric mucosal injury.  American Journal of Physiology. 1993;;  265 (5 Pt 1) G993-8
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Ding  S Z,, Lam  S K,, Yuen  S T,, Wong  B CY,, Hui  W M,, Ho  J,, Guo  X,, Cho  C H.. Mucosal prostaglandin, tumor necorsis factor α and neutrophils: causative relationship in indomethacin-induced stomach injuries.  European Journal of Pharmacology. 1998;;  348 257-63
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Professor C. H. Cho

Department of Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine The University of HongKong

5 Sassoon Road

Hong Kong

P. R. China

Email: chcho@hkusua.hku.hk

Phone: 852-2817-0859

      >