Abstract: The antioxidant properties of crude polysaccharide from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (LCP) was extensively investigated with DPPH radical-scavenging, hydroxyl radical-scavenging, superoxide anion-scavenging, total antioxidant activity, chelating effect on ferrous ion and reducing power and lipid peroxidation. In addition, the antiproliferative activity of HepG2 cell was also tested. The experimental results showed that LCP exhibited antioxidation and cytotoxicity. LCP has higher activities on reducing power, superoxide anion-scavenging and lipid peroxidation, and it also exhibited antiproliferation ability on HepG2 cell. LCP is expected to be explored as a natural potential antioxidant and cytotoxic natural bioactive macromolecule.

Key words: Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., polysaccharide, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity