Korean angelica

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Korean angelica
• Korean tanggwi
• Gigantic Angelica

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Apiales, it is classified under the family Apiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Angelica, specifically the species Angelica gigas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to specific regions within Eastern Asia. Its primary distribution can be found in the Manchuria region of China. Additionally, it grows naturally throughout the Korean peninsula. These areas provide the specific environmental conditions necessary for its development. Consequently, its geographical range is relatively concentrated within these neighboring territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Angelica gigas is characterized by its specific preference for high-altitude environments, where it occupies a narrow ecological niche. The plant is predominantly found at a consistent altitudinal level, with its distribution concentrated at a mean elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This specialized habitat preference is further evidenced by its restricted vertical range, as both its minimum and maximum elevation thresholds are documented at 1000 m AMSL. This precise altitudinal positioning suggests that the species is highly adapted to the specific climatic conditions, soil compositions, and light intensities found at this exact elevation, making it a highly specialized component of its native montane ecosystem.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Angelica gigas is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, meaning it completes its life cycle over multiple years rather than dying after a single flowering season. As a long-lived herb, it typically undergoes a developmental period where it establishes a robust root system and a basal rosette of large, deeply lobed leaves during its early years. Over subsequent seasons, the plant utilizes stored energy to undergo a dramatic reproductive phase, where it produces tall, sturdy flowering stalks topped with large, compound umbels of deep purple flowers. This perennial nature allows the plant to persist in its natural habitat, frequently re-emerging from its perennial rootstock to continue its growth and reproductive cycles, often varying its size and vigor depending on environmental conditions and resource availability.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Angelica gigas is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. The plant typically exhibits a stature ranging from a minimum height of 1 m to a maximum height of 2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.5 m.

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological development of Angelica gigas is characterized by significant morphological variation in its foliage, which serves as a primary site for metabolic activity. The leaf structure exhibits a substantial range in dimensions, with leaf lengths typically averaging 30 cm, though they can fluctuate from a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum of 40 cm. This longitudinal variation is complemented by a broad leaf width that maintains a mean of 25 cm, spanning a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum width of 30 cm. These expansive surface areas facilitate robust photosynthetic capacity, supporting the plant's complex biochemical processes and the accumulation of its characteristic secondary metabolites.

Leaf length max:

40 cm

Leaf length mean:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf width max:

30 cm

Leaf width mean:

25 cm

Leaf width min:

20 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Angelica gigas culminates in the development of its characteristic fruit, which exhibits specific morphological dimensions. The fruits produced by this species vary in size, with a documented minimum length of 0.5 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 0.8 cm, while maintaining an average (mean) length of 0.65 cm. In terms of lateral dimension, the fruit width ranges from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm, with a mean width measured at 0.4 cm. These dimensions define the physical characteristics of the reproductive output, ensuring the successful dispersal of genetic material through its varying fruit proportions.

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.4 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Angelica gigas has 1 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of natural products
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
5. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Angelica gigas has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Decursin, Decursinol angelate, Decursinol, Nodakenin, Coumarins.

Decursin

1. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
2. Journal of separation science
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
5. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Decursinol angelate

1. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
2. Journal of separation science
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
4. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
5. Planta medica

Decursinol

1. Journal of natural products
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Nodakenin

1. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Coumarins

1. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
2. Journal of natural products

Peucedanone

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Journal of natural products

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyaceticacid

1. BMC plant biology

4"-hydroxytigloyldecursinol

1. Journal of natural products

7-hydroxy-6-(2r-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl)coumarin

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

DA

1. Molecular biotechnology

Activities

Angelica gigas has 9 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Neuroprotective, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antiandrogenic, Antimicrobial.

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of natural products
2. BMC plant biology
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. Molecular biotechnology

Analgesic

1. Nutrients
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Anticancer

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine
2. Molecular biotechnology

Antiandrogenic

1. Molecular biotechnology

Antimicrobial

1. BMC plant biology

Cytotoxic

1. Planta medica

Diaphoretic

1. Current medicinal chemistry

Diuretic

1. Current medicinal chemistry

Expectorant

1. Current medicinal chemistry

Medicinal Uses

Angelica gigas has 25 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, inflammation, Plasmodium falciparum, allergies, amnesia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations