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

METHODSThe 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.

RESULTSThere 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.

CONCLUSIONAPIC 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.