Alangium chinense
Angelica chinensis, commonly known as Dong Quai, is a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine. Renowned as a "female ginseng," this perennial herb is prized for its ability to regulate hormonal balance, improve blood circulation, and support reproductive health, offering powerful therapeutic benefits for vitality and overall systemic wellness.
- Scientific name: Alangium chinense
- Family: Cornaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cornales, it is classified under the family Cornaceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement is completed within the genus Alangium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Cornales | WCVP |
| Family | Cornaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Alangium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Alangium chinense, is known by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), it is referred to as 八角枫, while in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant) and the Cantonese usage of Hong Kong (zh-hk), it is known as 八角楓. In Thailand, the plant is commonly called ผีเสื้อ, and in Arabic, it is identified as علنج صيني.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 八角枫 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 八角楓 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 八角楓 | Wikidata |
| th | ผีเสื้อ | Wikidata |
| ar | علنج صيني | Wikidata |
| zh | 八角枫 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 華八角楓 | Wikidata |
| fi | puikkokanuke | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 八角枫 | Wikidata |
| cs | alángium čínské | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily found across various regions within West-Central Tropical Africa. Its geographical range includes the nation of Burundi, where it grows in specific local habitats. It can also be located in the territory of Cabinda and throughout Cameroon. Furthermore, the species is distributed among the various islands within the Gulf of Guinea. Finally, its presence extends eastward to include the country of Rwanda.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cabinda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Alangium chinense, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties, including its specialized root system. The plant develops a network of fibrous roots that anchor it firmly into the soil while absorbing essential nutrients. In traditional medicinal practices, different parts are harvested and prepared, such as the roots and the dried leaves, which are often processed for their therapeutic potential in herbal remedies.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fibrous roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Alangium chinense has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anabasine, Chlorogenic Acid, Protocatechuic Acid, Salidroside.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anabasine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chlorogenic Acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Protocatechuic Acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salidroside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Alangium chinense has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include arthropathy, pain, rheumatic diseases, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| arthropathy | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatic diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| skin diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wind | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |