Effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide-iron complex on iron deficiency anemia in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic effects of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide-iron complex (APIC) on rats with iron deficiency anemia (IDA).


METHODS
The IDA rat model was established by adopting low-iron forage with a small amount of regular bloodletting. The rats were randomly divided into a model group, three AIPC groups (high, middle, and low dosage), an Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) group, a mixture group (ASP+FeCl(3)) and a positive control group (Niferex). Changes in hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT) and iron content of whole blood were observed.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference before and after administration in all treated groups and all indices were restored to near-normal levels in the APIC groups and the positive control group. There was a significant difference among the changes of the indices in all the APIC groups and those of the model group but not between those of the APIC groups and the positive control group. However, the recovery of the indices in the APIC groups was superior to that in the positive control group.


CONCLUSIONS
APIC not only has a superior therapeutic effect on IDA, but also has the effect of the ASP on supplementing blood and activating blood circulation. Hence, it may be used as a new iron-supplementing agent with a double therapeutic efficacy on blood supplementation for the treatment of IDA.
Wang
Pei-pei
PP
Pharmaceutical Preparation Section of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
Zhang
Yu
Y
Dai
Li-quan
LQ
Wang
Kai-ping
KP
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D029971:Angelica sinensis; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011134:Polysaccharides; C078972:Niferex; C044613:angelicae sinensis extract; D007501:Iron