Angelica pubescens
| Angelica pubescens | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Angelica |
| Species: | A. pubescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Angelica pubescens Maxim. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Angelica polyclada Franch. | |
Angelica pubescens is a plant in the family Apiaceae, native to Japan and East Asia. Angelica is a genus of about 50 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs that grow in the Northern Hemisphere.[1] The Japanese common name is shishiudo and the Chinese common name is 猪独活, du huo. Synonyms are "Usiang tu-huo" (fragrant Angelica), "mao tang-kuei" (hairy Angelica).[2][3]
Description
It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1–2 m tall with tripinnate leaves up to 1 m long, the leaflets being 5–10 cm long. The flowers are white, produced in large umbels. The young stems and leaves are edible. Shishiudo is often mistaken with udo. The plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 7, USDA hardiness zone: 6-9 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. The plant is self-fertile.[2]
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The leaves are edible.[2]
Medicinal Uses
Anodyne; Antiinflammatory; Antirheumatic; Carminative; Emmenagogue; Nervine; Vasodilator.
The roots and rhizomes are anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, carminative, nervine and vasodilator[3][4] A decoction is used to promote menstruation,[5] to treat rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism, headache, toothache and abscesses.[3] This herb is used medicinally in the same ways as A. dahurica (Bai Zhi).[6]
A number of compounds are present, including columbianetin, columbianetin acetate, osthol or osthole, isoangelol, anpubesol and other coumarins. Angelica contains osthole, which may inhibit platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation, and also has vasodilating properties. This plant appears to interfere with 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and cyclooxygenase (COX-1) activity in vitro. Compounds within Angelica pubescens have anti-inflammatory activity.[1]
Sixteen compounds have been isolated and identified from the roots of A.pubescens. Among these compounds, columbianadin, columbianetin acetate, bergapten, umbelliferone, and caffeic acid significantly demonstrated anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities at 10 mg/kg. However, only osthole and xanthotoxin revealed anti-inflammatory activity. Isoimperatorin only demonstrated an analgesic effect. These results revealed that the anti-inflammatory and analgesic constituents from roots of AP were related to peripheral inhibition of inflammatory substances and to the influence on the central nervous system.[7]
References
- 1 2 Sahelian, Ray MD. "Angelica root". Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Angelica pubescens - Maxim.". Plants for A Future. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 A BAREFOOT DOCTOR'S MANUA (PDF). U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. 1974. p. 972. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ↑ Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas.
- ↑ Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China.
- ↑ Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.
- ↑ Chen YF, Tsai HY, Wu TS. (Feb 1995). "Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities from roots of Angelica pubescens.". Planta Med. 61(1): 2-8. Retrieved 4 January 2016.