Angelica sinensis


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 China, Japan, and Korea. 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.

Pharmacology

Growing environment

Angelica is a low-temperature and long-sunshine crop, suitable for cold and cool climate, and can be cultivated at an altitude of 1500-3000m. The rate of lichen extraction is high in the low sea area. The seedling stage is shade-loving and the transmittance is 10%. Seedlings need to be kept out of direct sunlight, but the mature plant can withstand it. The growth of angelica should be cultivated in sandy loam with deep soil layer, loose soil, good drainage, and rich humus, not in low-lying water or easily hardened clay and barren sandy soil.

Use in traditional Chinese medicine

The dried root of A. sinensis is commonly known as Chinese angelica and is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine in the belief it benefits women's health, cardiovascular conditions, osteoarthritis, inflammation, headache, infections, mild anemia, fatigue and high blood pressure. The dong quai means that a husband shall return to his wife, which is implicitly said to help women's sexual health.
Overall, the U.S. National Library of Medicine states that more evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of dong quai for most uses.

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. One case of gynaecomastia has been reported following consumption of dong quai root powder pills.

Drug interactions

A. sinensis may increase the anticoagulant effects of the drug warfarin and consequently increase the risk of bleeding.
Due to the antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects of A. sinensis, it should be taken with caution with herbs or supplements that may slow blood clotting to reduce the possible risk of bleeding and bruising.

Chemistry

The plant's chemical constituents include phytosterols, polysaccharides, ligustilide, butylphthalide, cnidilide, isoenidilide, p-cymene, ferulate, and flavonoids. When isolated from the plant, one of the chemicals, angelica polysaccharide sulfate, has in vitro antioxidant activity.