Attenuation of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury by a polysaccharide from the roots of Dipsacus asperoides

► Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a leading cause of acute renal failure. ► A polysaccharide (WRDAP-1) is isolated from the roots of Dipsacus asperoides. ► WRDAP-1 exhibits a potent scavenging effect on superoxide radical and hydroxyl radical. ► Pretreatment with WRDAP-1 significantly protects the renal I/R injury from the oxidative damage. ► WRDAP-1 seems to be a highly promising agent for the therapy of renal I/R injury.