Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of different ratios and preparations of Angelica sinensis and chuanxiong rhizoma extracts

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Angelica sinensis (AS) and Chuanxiong rhizoma (CR) are frequently prescribed in clinical settings for their ability to enrich blood, regulate menstrual cycles, and alleviate pain. Despite their widespread use, there is a relative dearth of studies exploring their anti-inflammatory properties. Aim of the study: To evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Angelica sinensis- Chuanxiong rhizoma (ASCR) extracts and investigate its anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Materials and methods: AS and CR were combined in six ratios and extracted using five solvents. The quality of the resulting ASCR extracts was assessed by determining the content of ferulic acid (FA) using HPLC. The antioxidant effects of the ASCR extracts were evaluated in vitro using the DPPH and ABTS assays, as well as in HUVECs exposed to H 2 O 2-induced oxidative damage. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts were investigated in vivo through the assays of ear edema in mice and paw edema in rats. Biochemical markers including NO, MDA, and SOD in paw tissues, as well as PGE2, TNF- alpha, and COX-2 in rat serum, were measured to further elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of ASCR extracts. Results: The WA-2-1 was obtained by combining AS and CR in a 2:1 ratio through first water then ethanol extraction, and showed favorable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The extract demonstrated effective scavenging abilities against DPPH center dot and ABTS + center dot radicals while also protecting against H 2 O 2-induced oxidative damage. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed that WA-2-1 had significant inhibitory effects on ear and paw edema as well as the ability to decrease NO and MDA levels, enhance SOD activity, and downregulate the expression of COX-2, PGE2, and TNF- alpha. Conclusions: The combination of AS and CR exhibits favorable anti-inflammatory effects, attributed to its dual actions of mitigating oxidative stress and suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators in serum or tissues during the inflammatory process.