Frontiers in Pharmacology (Aug 2023)

Pharmacological action of Hedysarum polysaccharides: a review

  • Xiang Gao,
  • Xiang Gao,
  • Xiang Gao,
  • Xiang Gao,
  • Chunzhen Ren,
  • Chunzhen Ren,
  • Chunzhen Ren,
  • Linyu Li,
  • Linyu Li,
  • Linyu Li,
  • Huilin Zhao,
  • Huilin Zhao,
  • Huilin Zhao,
  • Kai Liu,
  • Kai Liu,
  • Kai Liu,
  • Mengjie Zhuang,
  • Xinfang Lv,
  • Xinfang Lv,
  • Xinfang Lv,
  • Xinfang Lv,
  • Xiaodong Zhi,
  • Xiaodong Zhi,
  • Xiaodong Zhi,
  • Xiaodong Zhi,
  • Hugang Jiang,
  • Hugang Jiang,
  • Hugang Jiang,
  • Qilin Chen,
  • Qilin Chen,
  • Qilin Chen,
  • Xinke Zhao,
  • Xinke Zhao,
  • Xinke Zhao,
  • Xinke Zhao,
  • Yingdong Li,
  • Yingdong Li,
  • Yingdong Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1119224
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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Hedysarum, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and food with a long history of clinical application, is used to improve health conditions and treat various diseases. Hedysarum polysaccharides (HPS), flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids, are the primary components of Hedysarum. HPS is the most important natural active ingredient of Hedysarum, which has many pharmacological effects. Currently, HPS exhibits significant promise in drug development for various ailments such as tumors, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and fibrosis. This review paper discusses the extraction, separation, and content determination techniques of HPS, along with the investigation of its chemical constituents. More importantly, we reviewed the anti-inflammatory pharmacological effects of HPS, such as inhibition of inflammatory factors and NF-κB signaling pathway; antitumor activity through apoptosis induction in tumor cells and blocking tumor cell proliferation and metastasis; antioxidant effects; regulation of various cytokines and immune cells; regulation of blood sugar levels, such as in type I and type II diabetes and in diabetic complications; improvement in symptoms of Alzheimer disease; anti-aging and anti-fibrosis properties; and improvement in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. This review paper establishes the theoretical foundation for future studies on the structure, mechanism, and clinical use of HPS.

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