Angelica sinensis explained

Angelica sinensis, commonly known as dong quai or female ginseng, is a herb belonging to the family Apiaceae, indigenous to China. Angelica sinensis grows in cool high altitude mountains in East Asia. The yellowish brown root of the plant is harvested in the fall and is a well-known Chinese medicine which has been used for thousands of years.^[1]

Pharmacology

Growing environment

Angelica is hardy to ^[2] and can be cultivated at elevations of 1500mto(-)3000mm (4,900feetto(-)10,000feetm). 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 commonly known as Chinese angelica is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, although there is insufficient evidence that it has any medicinal effect.^[3]

Adverse effects

There is evidence that A. sinensis may affect the muscles of the uterus. Women who are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant should not use A. sinensis, because it may induce a miscarriage. Taking A. sinensis can cause skin to become extra sensitive to the sun, leading to a greater risk for skin cancer.^[3]

Drug interactions

A. sinensis may increase the anticoagulant effects of the drug warfarin (as it contains coumarins^[4]) and consequently increase the risk of bleeding.^[5]

Due to the antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects of A. sinensis, it should be taken with caution with herbs or supplements (such as ginkgo, garlic, and ginger) that may slow blood clotting to reduce the possible risk of bleeding and bruising.^[6]

Chemistry

The plant's chemical constituents include phytosterols, polysaccharides, ligustilide, butylphthalide, cnidilide, isocnidilide, p-cymene, ferulate, and flavonoids.^[7]

See also

• Angelica
• Chinese herbology
• Scutellaria baicalensis (Baikal skullcap)
• Eleutherococcus senticosus or Siberian ginseng

External links

• Angelica sinensis List of Chemicals (Dr. Duke's Databases)
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food
• Angelica Sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University)
• 當歸, Dang Gui, Chinese Angelica Chinese Medicine Specimen Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dong quai. University of Maryland Medical Center. https://web.archive.org/web/20170628182757/http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/dong-quai. 2017-06-28.
2. Web site: Angelica sinensis . Angelica sinensis Dang Gui - Dong Quai - Chinese Angelica PFAF Plant Database . 20 February 2021.
3. Web site: Dong Quai. MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. 2 April 2020. 8 December 2020 .
4. Ying . Li . Si-Wang . Wang . Hong-Hai . Tu . Wei . Cao . Simultaneous quantification of six main active constituents in Chinese Angelica by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector . Pharmacognosy Magazine . 2013 . 9 . 34 . 114–119 . 10.4103/0973-1296.111255 . 23772106 . 3680850 . free .
5. Page . Robert Lee . Lawrence . Julie D. . Potentiation of Warfarin by Dong Quai . Pharmacotherapy . July 1999 . 19 . 7 . 870–876 . 10.1592/phco.19.10.870.31558 . 10417036 . 25661124 .
6. Tsai . Hsin-Hui . Lin . Hsiang-Wen . Lu . Ying-Hung . Chen . Yi-Ling . Mahady . Gail B. . Cox . Dermot . A Review of Potential Harmful Interactions between Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Agents and Chinese Herbal Medicines . PLOS ONE . 9 May 2013 . 8 . 5 . e64255 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0064255 . 23671711 . 3650066 . 2013PLoSO...864255T . free .
7. Zhao . Kui J. . Dong . Tina T. X. . Tu . Peng F. . Song . Zong H. . Lo . Chun K. . Tsim . Karl W. K. . Molecular Genetic and Chemical Assessment of Radix Angelica (Danggui) in China . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry . April 2003 . 51 . 9 . 2576–2583 . 10.1021/jf026178h . 12696940 .