Bioactive arabinogalactan from Ferulopsis hystrix roots: characterization of gastroprotective and antioxidant potentials against drug-induced gastropathy

Abstract

Bristled ferula (Ferulopsis hystrix (Bunge) Pimenov) is a perennial plant belonging to the Apiaceae family, and its aqueous extract is utilised in Eastern medicine to treat digestive system diseases. In this study, water-soluble polysaccharides from F. hystrix were isolated for the first time, and the basic polymer FH-3 was separated and characterised. FH-3 was found to contain arabinose and galactose in a 1:5 ratio, with a molecular weight of 52.3 kDa. Methylation analysis confirmed the structure of FH-3 to be arabino-3,6-galactan. Administration of FH-3 at 10 and 30 mg/kg doses in rats with drug-induced gastropathy effectively limited the development of large and strip-like erosions in the gastric mucosa. FH-3 prevented the development of oxidative stress, normalising malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT) and reducing glutathione (GSH) serum levels. Arabinogalactan FH-3 is a new gastroprotective and antioxidant plant component in F. hystrix roots, offering promising prospects for treating stomach diseases.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Ferulopsis hystrix
• arabinogalactan
• gastroprotective activity
• antioxidant activity
• drug-induced gastropathy

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Buryat Research Resource Centre for their technical support in the chromatographic and mass-spectrometric experiments.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, grant number 121030100227-7.