Objective To explore the protective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide（ASP）on murine pancreas induced by the D-galactose (D-gal). Methods The male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 3 groups(10 mice in each group): D-gal group in which mice were received hypodermic injection of D-gal (120 mg/kg, qd×42 days), ASP+ D-gal group in which the dose and time of the injection of D-gal were the same as that in the D-gal group, from the 16th days of the injection of D-gal, mice intraperitoneally injected ASP(40 mg/kg，qd×27 days), and normal control group in which mice received the same dose and time of saline. The related indicators were detected on the second day after modeling and administration. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and fasting insulin level were measured by collecting peripheral blood. Pancreas weight and visceral index were calculated. Paraffin sections were prepared. After HE staining, the micro-structures of the pancreas of each group were observed. The mononuclear cells and the related area in islets were detected by using image analysis method. Malonaldehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were analyzed by preparing pancreas tissue homogenate. Results At the beginning of the 16th day of the injection of D-gal, mice were intraperitoneally injected ASP in 27 days. Compared with the control
group, pancreatic wet weight and visceral index of ASP+ D-gal mice decreased significantly. The FBG, OGTT for 30 minutes and 120 minutes had no significant difference. There was no significant difference of the blood sugar level between the groups. The area under the curve (AUC) was reduced. The number and the size of the mononuclear cells within islet decreased when compared with D-gal group. MDA content decreased, and T-AOC activity increased significantly. Conclusion D-gal can induce structural and functional injury of the pancreas. ASP can antagonise D-gal to reduce the damage to the pancreas. The mechanism may be associated with reducing oxidative damage.