Isolation, structure and bioactivities of the polysaccharides from Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels: a review.

The root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, a well-known Chinese herbal medicine, has been used historically as a tonic, hematopoietic and anti-inflammatory agent for thousands of years. Modern phytochemistry and pharmacological experiments have proved that polysaccharide is one of the major active ingredients in A. sinensis. It has been demonstrated that A. sinensis polysaccharides had various important biological activities, such as hematopoiesis, immunomodulation, antitumor, antioxidant, radioprotection and hypoglycemic activity. The purpose of the present review is to summarize previous and current references regarding extraction and purification techniques as well as structural characterization and biological activities of A. sinensis polysaccharides.