Abstract:Objective: To compare the differences in the hematinic and laxative pharmacological activities of Angelica sinensis and its components. Methods: Eighty-four Kunming mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a positive control group, a whole Angelica sinensis group (AS group), an Angelica sinensis water-soluble component group (AW group), an Angelica sinensis alcohol-soluble component group (AE group), and an Angelica sinensis volatile oil group (AO group), totaling eight groups, with 12 mice in each group. Except for the normal group, the remaining groups were subcutaneously injected with N-Acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) and orally administered with loperamide hydrochloride to establish a mouse model of blood deficiency constipation. On day 7 of modeling, each group was orally administered the corresponding test substance once daily for three consecutive days. General conditions and body weight changes of the mice were observed, peripheral blood cell counts were measured, stool morphology and fecal output were recorded, fecal moisture content and colonic tissue moisture content were detected, small intestine propulsion rate was assessed by charcoal meal method, and serum levels of β-endorphin (β-EP), cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), substance P (SP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were determined by ELISA. Differences in the hematinic and laxative pharmacological activities of Angelica sinensis and its components were analyzed. Results: Compared with the normal group, the model group mice showed significantly reduced white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), platelet count (PLT), and body weight (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, fecal moisture content, colon moisture content, and small intestine propulsion rate were decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Serum CCK-8 and SP levels were also lower (P<0.01), while serum β-EP and VIP levels increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, AS and AW groups had higher RBC, WBC, HGB, PLT, HCT, defecation volume, fecal moisture content, and colon moisture content (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The AE group showed increased RBC, WBC, HGB, PLT, HCT, and colon moisture content (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but had a lesser effect on defecation volume and fecal moisture content. The AO group exhibited increased fecal moisture content, colon moisture content, and defecation volume (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but no significant changes in RBC, WBC, HGB, PLT, and HCT. The AE group showed no significant changes in defecation volume, fecal moisture content, and colon moisture content. The AS and AO groups had increased small intestine propulsion rates (P<0.01), while there was no significant difference in small intestine propulsion rate between the AW and AE groups. The AS group had elevated serum CCK-8 and SP levels (P<0.01) and decreased serum β-EP and VIP levels (P<0.01). The AO group had increased serum CCK-8 and SP levels (P<0.05), but no significant change in serum β-EP and VIP levels. The AW group had decreased serum VIP levels (P<0.05), but no statistically significant difference in serum CCK-8 and SP levels. Compared with the AS group, the AW group had higher RBC, WBC, HGB, PLT, and HCT levels, while the AO and AE groups had lower levels of these parameters (P<0.05). Both AW and AO groups had increased fecal moisture content (P<0.05), and both AW and AE groups had increased colon moisture content (P<0.05). All three groups (AO, AE, and AW) had elevated serum CCK-8 and SP levels and decreased serum β-EP and VIP levels (P<0.05). In summary, AE > AW > AS > AO in terms of blood replenishment, AO > AS > AW > AE in terms of promoting bowel movements, and AO > AS > AE > AW in terms of intestinal motility. Conclusion: Angelica sinensis and its components have varying degrees of blood replenishing and bowel-promoting activities. The AE component has strong blood replenishing activity, while the AO component has strong bowel-promoting and defecation-stimulating activity, providing a reference for the development of traditional Chinese medicine based on Angelica sinensis components.