Different solvent fractions of Acanthopanax senticosus harms exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and inhibit the human Kv1.3 channel.

The potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms were evaluated and its effect on the human Kv1.3 potassium channel was detected. The ethyl acetate fraction possessed the highest phenolic (289.19±7.43 mg tannic acid equivalents/g) and flavonoid (10.80±0.67 mg quercetin equivalents/g) contents and exhibited stronger antioxidant effects than other fractions in most of the antioxidant assays. On the other hand, the dichloromethane (CH(2)Cl(2)) fraction showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity. The CH(2)Cl(2) fraction inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 1β mRNAs, and the generation of reactive oxygen species in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Also, the peak current was inhibited 54.8%±17% by the CH(2)Cl(2) fraction in voltage-clamp recording from Xenopus laevis oocytes. Our research demonstrated that fractions of A. senticosus have great potential to be a source of edible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.