Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels

Fiorito, Serena, Epifano, Francesco, Preziuso, Francesca, Taddeo, Vito Alessandro & Genovese, Salvatore, 2018, Selenylated plant polysaccharides: A survey of their chemical and pharmacological properties, Phytochemistry 153, pp. 1-10 : 4

5.2.1. Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels

A. sinensis (Chinese angelica) is among the most widely used worldwide medicinal plant. The use of its polysaccharide fraction for therapeutic purposes has been well documented in the literature ( Xie et al., 2016). The chemical synthesis and characterization of pharmacological properties of Se-Ps from this species have been reported in a series of papers published in the literature between 2013 and 2017. The first of these manuscripts was authored by Qin and coworkers in 2013a, b. These researchers first obtained a library of 9 Se-Ps in modest to fairly good yields (18.0%–42.8%) with a Se content ranging from 6.4 mg /g to 13.0 mg/g. All the synthesized samples were then screened for their capacity to increase the proliferation rate of chicken peripheral lymphocytes when applied in a concentration range from 0.097 μg/mL to 100 μg/mL. All Se-Ps increased this parameter from 11% to 29%, while the parent polymer recorded a percentage around 6%. Three samples, featured by the highest content of Se, 36.8 mg /g, 37.1 mg /g, and 40.2 mg /g respectively, provided the best results in the in vitro assay and were then selected to perform in vivo studies in chickens vaccinated with ND vaccine ( Qin et al., 2013b). Two doses, 1 mg /mL and 3 mg /mL, were administered i.m. to male White Roman chickens once a day for 3 days. All samples at both concentrations led to an increase of the peripheral lymphocyte proliferation in percentages ranging from 34.8% to 44%. The same pattern was recorded for serum antibody titer. A 1.5- to 2-fold increase respect to untreated animals in the production of key mediators like IL-6 and IFN-γ was also revealed. The same research group in 2015 investigated the effects of the treatment with the Se-P previously obtained and featured by the highest content of Se (40.2 mg /g) on phagocytosis, NO release, and secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL- 10 in murine peritoneal macrophages ( Gao et al., 2015). The Se-P was assayed in the concentration range from 0.781 μg/ mL to 3.125 μg/mL. Cells treated with the Se-P showed an enhanced phagocytosis and higher than that recorded upon treatment with the native polysaccharide. Also, NO release was increased by 30% at all doses tested, as well as the production of TNF-α (around 25%) and IL-6 (15%–20%), while IL-10 release underwent no substantial modification respect to controls. Finally, in 2017 Gao and coworkers assessed the in vivo anti-oxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Se-Ps from Chinese angelica in CCl 4 -induced hepatic injury in mice. These authors tested a Se-P with a Se content of 12.98 mg /g and apply it in the concentration range 0.0626 mg /g - 1.0 mg/g. In a preliminary screening in vitro at all doses tested the Se-P showed a marked radical scavenging activity towards DPPH, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anions displaying values comparable to those recorded for ascorbic acid used as the reference. In in vivo studies the Se-P was administered subcutaneously at three doses, namely 0.05 mg /mL, 0.1 mg /mL, and 0.15 mg /mL once a day for 7 days. All groups of animals were then treated with CCl 4 in olive oil i.p. to induce liver damage. The total protein content in this organ remained substantially unaffected in treated and control groups. However deep differences were noted for some key biochemical parameters. Pre-treatment with the Se-P at the medium and high doses led to a 2- to 3- fold reduction of ALT and AST, while a less effect was recorded on alkaline phosphatase respect to animals treated with only CCl 4. No appreciable histopathological changes were observed in animals pretreated with the Se-P, while huge infiltrations of inflammatory cells and fatty degeneration of hepatocytes were noted in control animals. Liver homogenate from animals administered the Se-P showed a reduced level of MDA, a very good ROS scavenging capacity, and a huge increase in the activity of CAT, SOD, and GSH. Finally, the expression extent of proteins being part of the MAPK signaling pathway, namely p - ERK, p -JNK, and p38, was very close to that of animals treated only with the vehicle.