We examined the application of six different resins with the aim of selecting a macroporous resin suitable for purifying Acanthopanax senticosus total flavonoids (ASTFs) from Acanthopanax senticosus crude extract (EAS) by comparing their adsorption/desorption capacities, which led to the selection of HPD-600. Research on the adsorption mechanism showed that the adsorption process had pseudo-second-order kinetics and fit the Freundlich adsorption model. Moreover, the analysis of thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. The optimal conditions for purification of ASTFs were determined as sample pH of 3, 60% ethanol concentration, and 3 BV·h⁻¹ flow rate, for both adsorption and desorption, using volumes of 2.5 and 4 BV, respectively. The application of macroporous resin HPD-600 to enrich ASTFs resulted in an increase in the purity of total flavonoids, from 28.79% to 50.57%. Additionally, the antioxidant capacity of ASTFs was higher than that of EAS, but both were lower than that of L-ascorbic acid. The changes in ASTFs compositions were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS), with the results illustrating that the levels of seven major flavonoids of ASTFs were increased compared to that in the crude extract.

Flavonoids are one of the important active ingredients from Acanthopanax senticosus, with a variety of biological functions, such as antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The aim of this work was to investigate enzyme-assisted ultrasonic extraction of A. senticosus flavonoids and their enrichment and antioxidant properties. We found that the optimal extraction process after Box–Behnken response surface optimization had the following parameters: a 3:2 ratio of cellulase to pectinase, enzyme mixture amount of 6960 U g⁻¹, enzyme treatment time of 59.80 min; temperature of 53.70 °C, and pH value of 6.05. The yield of total flavonoids reached 36.95 ± 0.05 mg g⁻¹. The results for different polar solvent enrichments showed that the highest flavonoid (61.0 ± 0.344 mg g⁻¹), polyphenol (24.93 ± 0.234 mg g⁻¹), and saponin (17.80 ± 0.586 mg g⁻¹) contents were observed in the 1-butanol fraction, and the highest polysaccharide content (20.04 ± 0.783 mg g⁻¹) was in the water fraction. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the antioxidant potential of the extract was related to the higher amount of flavonoids and phenolics in the extract. We thus found an effective A. senticosus flavonoid extraction and enrichment procedure, which can serve as a reference method.

The redox reaction is a normal process of biological metabolism in the body that leads to the production of free radicals. Under conditions such as pathogenic infection, stress, and drug exposure, free radicals can exceed normal levels, causing protein denaturation, DNA damage, and the oxidation of the cell membrane, which, in turn, causes inflammation. Acanthopanax senticosus (A. senticosus) flavonoids are the main bioactive ingredients with antioxidant function. H₂O₂-treated RAW 264.7 cells and DSS-induced colitis in mice were used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of A. senticosus flavonoids. The results show that A. senticosus flavonoids can significantly downregulate the levels of ROS and MDA in H₂O₂-treated RAW 264.7 cells and increase the levels of CAT, SOD, and GPx. A. senticosus flavonoids can also increase the body weights of DSS-induced colitis mice, increase the DAI index, and ameliorate the shortening of the colon. ELISA experiments confirmed that A. senticosus flavonoids could reduce the level of MDA in the mouse serum and increase the levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx. Histopathology showed that the tissue pathological changes in the A. senticosus flavonoid group were significantly lower than those in the DSS group. The Western blot experiments showed that the antioxidant capacity of A. senticosus flavonoids was accomplished through the Nrf2 pathway. In conclusion, A. senticosus flavonoids can relieve oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro and protect cells or tissues from oxidative damage.