Protective effects of Angelica dahurica polysaccharide on oxidative stress and liver injury induced by ovariectomized/D-galactose in rats

Background Oxidative stress-induced liver injury can progress to severe hepatic conditions. Polysaccharides are promising therapeutic agents, but the protective effects of Angelica dahurica polysaccharide (ADP) against this injury remain unclear.Purpose This study was conducted to elucidate ADP's protective effects and underlying molecular mechanisms in Ovariectomize/D-galactose (OVX/D-Gal) rats.Methods Fifty female OVX rats and ten sham-operated (SO) rats were randomly divided into six groups. Except SO group, rats were administered the corresponding doses of ADP and resveratrol respectively, and the model was established by 49-day daily subcutaneous D-Gal injection. Serum and liver samples were collected to examine the hepatic histopathological changes, oxidative stress-related biomarkers, inflammatory factors, and protein and gene expression levels.Results ADP reduced serum ALT and AST levels (P < 0.01) and improved liver histology. ADP increased SOD and GSH-Px activities , decreased MDA levels (P < 0.05). ADP also lowered pro-inflammatory cytokines levels, upregulated Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1 expression, promoted Bcl-2 and suppressed Bax and cleaved caspase-3 (P < 0.05).Conclusions ADP alleviated OVX/D-Gal-induced oxidative stress and liver injury by increasing antioxidant capacity, inhibiting apoptosis, attenuating inflammation, and activating Nrf2/HO-1/NQO-1 signaling pathway.