Polysaccharide from Angelica Sinensis Suppresses Inflammation and Reverses Anemia in Complete Freund's Adjuvant-induced Rats

The anti-inflammatory and antianemic activities of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) isolated from roots of Angelica sinensis (AS) was investigated in a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritic rat model. It was observed that serum iron (SI) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) levels were elevated after 4-week oral administration of ASP. Red blood cell (RBC) count and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were ameliorated as well. Moreover, inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-a were decreased strikingly in CFA-induced arthritic rats after treatment of ASP. Evidence also showed that ASP strongly inhibited hepcidin expression through the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK2/STAT3) pathway. Furthermore, ASP exhibited reduced primary and secondary lesions in adjuvant arthritis, attenuating synovitis and inflammatory joint damage. Data presented in this article collectively indicated that ASP significantly decreased proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-6), which might play a crucial role in the CFA-induced arthritic rats, and had a therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis in rats. Results of Western blot analysis indicated that ASP inhibited the activation of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in the CFA-induced arthritic rats.