Chinese angelica

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese angelica

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Angelica polymorpha var. sinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Apiales and situated in the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Angelica, specifically as the species Angelica sinensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions of Asia. Within China, it is widely found throughout the South-Central provinces. Its range also extends northward into the regions of Inner Mongolia and North-Central China. Beyond the Chinese borders, the species can be found within the Indo-China peninsula. Specifically, it is known to grow in the country of Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Angelica sinensis is defined by its preference for high-altitude environments, typically thriving within specific montane zones. It is most commonly found inhabiting mountain slopes and meadows at an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 2100 m AMSL. The species reaches its upper ecological limit at a maximum elevation of 3000 m AMSL, with its optimal growth conditions concentrated around a mean elevation of 2550 m AMSL. This specialized altitudinal distribution suggests an adaptation to the cooler temperatures, unique light intensities, and specific moisture regimes characteristic of these high-elevation alpine or sub-alpine habitats.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2550 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Angelica sinensis is characterized by its status as a perennial herb, though its developmental stages can exhibit variable growth patterns depending on environmental conditions and cultivation practices. As a perennial species, the plant establishes a robust root system that allows it to survive through multiple growing seasons, often cycling through stages that may appear biennial in certain climates. The lifecycle typically begins with the germination of seeds, followed by a vegetative phase where the plant develops a thick, fleshy taproot and large, compound leaves. As the plant matures, it undergoes a reproductive phase, producing tall flowering stalks topped with umbels of small flowers. After successful pollination and seed set, the plant enters a period of dormancy, relying on its stored energy within the perennial root structure to emerge and repeat its growth cycle in subsequent years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Angelica sinensis is characterized by a non-woody growth habit. The plant typically exhibits a stature ranging from a minimum height of 0.4 m to a maximum height of 1 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.7 m.

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.7 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological development of the foliage in Angelica sinensis is characterized by significant morphological variability in leaf dimensions. The leaf length demonstrates a broad range of growth, starting from a minimum of 1 cm and reaching a maximum of 5.5 cm, which results in an average leaf length of approximately 2.875 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width exhibits a fluctuating profile, with measurements spanning from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm, establishing a mean width of 1.5 cm. This variation in leaf size and shape suggests a dynamic physiological adaptation in surface area, which is critical for the plant's photosynthetic efficiency and transpiration regulation.

Leaf length max:

5.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.875 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Angelica sinensis culminates in the production of small, specialized fruits that exhibit specific morphological dimensions. These fruits vary in size, with recorded lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.35 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm, resulting in a mean fruit length of 0.4875 cm. Similarly, the width of the fruit shows measurable variation, spanning from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm, which establishes a mean fruit width of 0.35 cm. These precise measurements characterize the fruit's physical structure during the plant's reproductive stage.

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.4875 cm

Fruit length min:

0.35 cm

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Angelica sinensis has 6 reported plant parts identified across 35 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, rhizome, fruit, leaf, seed.

Root

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product research
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. BMC plant biology
5. Journal of environmental management

Rhizome

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fruit

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Leaf

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Seed

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Angelica sinensis has 274 reported phytochemicals identified across 35 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, Ligustilide, Senkyunolide A, Butylidenephthalide.

ferulic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Frontiers in plant science
5. Natural product research

Z-ligustilide

1. Natural products and bioprospecting
2. Journal of chromatography. A
3. Journal of natural products
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
5. Journal of separation science

Ligustilide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Frontiers in microbiology
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Senkyunolide A

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Planta medica
5. Frontiers in plant science

Butylidenephthalide

1. Frontiers in microbiology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Parasitology research
4. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Coniferyl ferulate

1. Journal of chromatography. A
2. Food & function
3. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
4. BMC plant biology
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoids

1. Microbiological research
2. Heliyon
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Polysaccharide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Carbohydrate polymers

Volatile oil

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Galen medical journal
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

glucose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. International journal of biological macromolecules
5. Food & function

Activities

Angelica sinensis has 593 reported activities identified across 35 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Analgesic, Anticancer, Hematopoietic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Food & function
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hematopoietic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Scientific reports

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current issues in molecular biology
3. Nanoscale

Antianemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current medical science

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nanoscale

Antifatigue

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antipruritic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of medicinal food

Conditions

Angelica sinensis has 71 reported investigations on conditions identified across 35 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, oxidative stress, antioxidant, apoptosis.

Inflammation

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. Galen medical journal
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Nutrients
3. Galen medical journal

Oxidative stress

1. Scientific reports
2. Environmental science and pollution research international
3. International immunopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Ultrasonics sonochemistry

Apoptosis

1. Bioscience trends
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Blood circulation

1. Scientific reports
2. Heliyon

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Constipation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Fever

1. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet
2. Chinese medical sciences journal = Chung-kuo i hsueh k'o hsueh tsa chih

Hot flashes

1. Planta medica
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Angelica sinensis has 58 reported preparations identified across 35 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, ASP, Angelica sinensis extract, Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP), SBD.4A.

Extracts

1. Natural product research
2. Journal of biosciences
3. Chemical research in toxicology

Asp

1. Food & function
2. Current medical science

Angelica sinensis extract

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (asp)

1. Current medical science
2. Food & function

Sbd.4a

1. Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Crude extract

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Life sciences

Dried roots

1. BMC plant biology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Essential oil

1. Parasitology research
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Roots

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Volatile oil

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. International immunopharmacology