Angelica sinensis

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|name = Angelica sinensis

|image = Danggui Angelica sinensis.jpg

|taxon = Angelica sinensis

|authority = (Oliv.) Diels{{GRIN | access-date = 2012-06-30 }}

|synonyms =

{{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; |

  • Angelica omeiensis C.Q.Yuan & R.H.Shan
  • Angelica wilsonii H.Wolff

}}

|synonyms_ref = {{cite web

|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=angelica+sinensis

|title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species

|access-date=7 July 2015}}

|}}

Angelica sinensis, commonly known as dong quai ({{zh|t=當歸|s=当归|p=dāngguī|poj=tong-kui|j=dong1 gwai1}}) or female ginseng, is a herb belonging to the family Apiaceae, indigenous to China. A. sinensis grows in cool high altitude mountains in East Asia. The yellowish brown root of the plant is harvested in the fall and used in traditional Chinese medicine. There is no scientific evidence that A. sinensis is effective for any medicinal purpose.{{ cite web | url = https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/936.html |publisher = MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine| title = Dong Quai|date=6 February 2024|access-date=1 December 2024 }}

Cultivation

Angelica is hardy to {{cvt|5|C|F}}{{cite web |title=Angelica sinensis |url=https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Angelica+sinensis |website=Angelica sinensis Dang Gui – Dong Quai – Chinese Angelica PFAF Plant Database |access-date=20 February 2021}} and can be cultivated at elevations of {{convert|1500|to(-)|3000|m|sigfig=1}}. Seedlings need to be kept out of direct sunlight, but the mature plant can withstand it. Angelica requires deep moist fertile soil and is perennial if prevented from going to seed.

Traditional Chinese medicine

The dried root of A. sinensis {{ndash}} commonly known as Chinese angelica ({{zh|t={{linktext|當歸}}|p=dāngguī|poj=tong-kui}}) {{ndash}} is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Use and adverse effects

Although A. sinensis has been used safely in doses up to 150 mg daily, there is evidence that it may affect the muscles of the uterus.

Anticoagulant effect

A. sinensis may increase the anticoagulant effects of the drug warfarin (as it contains coumarins), and consequently may increase the risk of bleeding.{{cite journal |last1=Page |first1=Robert Lee |last2=Lawrence |first2=Julie D. |title=Potentiation of Warfarin by Dong Quai |journal=Pharmacotherapy |date=July 1999 |volume=19 |issue=7 |pages=870–876 |doi=10.1592/phco.19.10.870.31558 |pmid=10417036 |s2cid=25661124 }} Caution is needed when consumed with herbs (such as ginkgo or garlic), which may affect blood clotting.{{cite journal |last1=Tsai |first1=Hsin-Hui |last2=Lin |first2=Hsiang-Wen |last3=Lu |first3=Ying-Hung |last4=Chen |first4=Yi-Ling |last5=Mahady |first5=Gail B. |last6=Cox |first6=Dermot |title=A Review of Potential Harmful Interactions between Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Agents and Chinese Herbal Medicines |journal=PLOS ONE |date=9 May 2013 |volume=8 |issue=5 |pages=e64255 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0064255 |pmid=23671711 |pmc=3650066 |bibcode=2013PLoSO...864255T |doi-access=free }}

Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals include phytosterols, polysaccharides, ligustilide, butylphthalide, cnidilide, isocnidilide, p-cymene, ferulate, and flavonoids.{{cite journal |last1=Ying |first1=Li |last2=Si-Wang |first2=Wang |last3=Hong-Hai |first3=Tu |last4=Wei |first4=Cao |title=Simultaneous quantification of six main active constituents in Chinese Angelica by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector |journal=Pharmacognosy Magazine |date=2013 |volume=9 |issue=34 |pages=114–119 |doi=10.4103/0973-1296.111255 |pmid=23772106 |pmc=3680850 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal|display-authors=3 |last1=Zhao |first1=Kui J. |last2=Dong |first2=Tina T. X. |last3=Tu |first3=Peng F. |last4=Song |first4=Zong H. |last5=Lo |first5=Chun K. |last6=Tsim |first6=Karl W. K. |title=Molecular Genetic and Chemical Assessment of Radix Angelica (Danggui) in China |journal=Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry |date=April 2003 |volume=51 |issue=9 |pages=2576–2583 |doi=10.1021/jf026178h |pmid=12696940 |bibcode=2003JAFC...51.2576Z }}

See also

References