OBJECTIVETo study the influences of different processing methods on the content of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides (APS) from the same origin.

METHODThe contents of neutral polysaccharides and acidic polysaccharides in various samples of A. sinensis were determined by phenol-sulfuric acid and carbazole-sulfuric acid method, respectively. The proliferation ability of lymphocyte was detected by MTT method after the cells were cultured with different concentrations of APS from two samples processed by different methods.

RESULTThe different processing methods had different effects on the contents of polysaccharide. The maximum content of APS (26.03%) was found in the sample processed by microwave drying medium-fired, but the minimum content of APS (2.25%) was found in the sample processed by vacuum drying at 50 TC. Furthermore, the APS (high concentration group, P < 0.01) processed by microwave drying medium-fired could both accelerate proliferation of spleen lymphocytes directly and increase proliferation of T cells of mice induced by Con A. However, the APS processed by far-infrared drying did not show conspicuous immune enhancement activity.

CONCLUSIONDifferent processing methods have different effects on the contents of APS and the proliferation ability of lymphocytes.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Mice ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Spleen ; cytology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects

Primary processing is important links and closely related to the quality of traditional Chinese medicinal materials. The methods and technologies system of traditional primary processing were derived from the long-term practices and experiences, which is distinctive, colorful and diverse, and scientific, it is not only to cleaning of remove the non-officinal parts, drying for termination the physiological status of organisms, but also to retain the most active substances, decrease the toxic components, and promote the transformation among chemical ingredients through primary processing. So the traditional primary processing endowed with characters, quality, specifications and properties of traditional Chinese medicine, and embodied some important science truth. This paper analyzed the traditional experiences and modern cognition on primary processing of TCM materials based on the changes of chemical compositions and explored the scientific truth. These data may be providing foundation and support for process of normalization and standardization of primary processing of TCM materials.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Molecular Structure