Angelica gigas, commonly known as Korean angelica or giant angelica, is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant native to northeastern Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. This striking plant is known for its large umbels of deep purple flowers and robust, hollow stems, making it a popular choice in ornamental gardens for its aesthetic appeal and medicinal properties.

Botanical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Angelica
Species: A. gigas

Plant Characteristics

Angelica gigas can reach up to 1.5 to 2 meters in height. It features large, divided leaves that are lush green and glossy, with a leathery texture. The flowers, which appear in the plant's second year, are a deep purplish-red and form large, rounded umbels that attract a variety of pollinators.

Chemical Composition and Structure

The plant is rich in coumarins, phthalides, and other volatile oils that are believed to contribute to its medicinal properties. These compounds are thought to have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antibacterial effects. The roots of Angelica gigas are particularly valued in traditional medicine for these bioactive compounds.

How to Cultivate It

To cultivate Angelica gigas successfully:

1. Soil: Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil.
2. Light: Grows best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade.
3. Water: Needs regular watering, especially in dry periods, to keep the soil consistently moist.
4. Temperature: While it can tolerate a range of temperatures, it prefers cooler conditions and may require winter protection in colder climates.

Uses and Benefits

Angelica gigas is primarily used in traditional Asian medicine. Its root, known as 'Danggui' in Korean and Chinese medicine, is used to treat anemia, regulate menstrual cycles, and as a general tonic to enhance health. The plant is also considered to have sedative properties and is used to reduce stress.

Applications

• Medicinal: The root extract is widely used in herbal medicine for its purported health benefits, including improving circulatory health and treating menstrual and menopausal symptoms.
• Ornamental: The striking appearance and height of Angelica gigas make it a focal point in garden designs, particularly in borders and wild garden settings.
• Culinary: Although less common, young leaves and stems may be used in culinary applications for their aromatic qualities.
• Cosmetics

INCI Functions:

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Angelica gigas is generally safe for cultivation, with no significant environmental threats.

 However, it is important to note that the plant should be handled with care due to its bioactive compounds, which can be potent. 

Gloves should be worn when handling the plant to avoid skin irritation from its sap. Sustainable cultivation practices should be followed to prevent overharvesting, especially of wild populations, which are valued for medicinal use.

References__________________________________________________________________________

Song YR, Jang B, Lee SM, Bae SJ, Bak SB, Kim YW. Angelica gigas NAKAI and Its Active Compound, Decursin, Inhibit Cellular Injury as an Antioxidant by the Regulation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase and YAP Signaling. Molecules. 2022 Mar 13;27(6):1858. doi: 10.3390/molecules27061858.

Abstract. Natural products and medicinal herbs have been used to treat various human diseases by regulating cellular functions and metabolic pathways. Angelica gigas NAKAI (AG) helps regulate pathological processes in some medical fields, including gastroenterology, gynecology, and neuropsychiatry. Although some papers have reported its diverse indications, the effects of AG against arachidonic acid (AA)+ iron and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) have not been reported. In HepG2 cells, AA+ iron induced cellular apoptosis and mitochondrial damage, as assessed by mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP) and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. On the other hand, AG markedly inhibited these detrimental phenomena and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by AA+ iron. AG activated the liver kinase B1 (LKB1)-dependent AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which affected oxidative stress in the cells. Moreover, AG also regulated the expression of yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling as mediated by the AMPK pathways. In mice, an oral treatment of AG protected against liver toxicity induced by CCl4, as indicated by the plasma and histochemical parameters. Among the compounds in AG, decursin had antioxidant activity and affected the AMPK pathway. In conclusion, AG has antioxidant effects in vivo and in vitro, indicating that natural products such as AG could be potential candidate for the nutraceuticals to treat various disorders by regulating mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular metabolic pathways.

Sowndhararajan K, Kim S. Neuroprotective and Cognitive Enhancement Potentials of Angelica gigas Nakai Root: A Review. Sci Pharm. 2017 Apr 28;85(2):21. doi: 10.3390/scipharm85020021. 

Abstract. Angelica gigas Nakai is an important medicinal plant with health promoting properties that is used to treat many disorders. In traditional herbal medicine, the root of this plant is used to promote blood flow, to treat anemia, and is used as sedative or tonic agent. The root contains various bioactive metabolites; in particular, decursin and decursinol (pyranocoumarin type components) have been reported to possess various pharmacological properties. Recently, several in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that the crude extracts and isolated components from the root of A. gigas exhibited neuroprotective and cognitive enhancement effects. Neuronal damage or death is the most important factor for many neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, recent studies have clearly demonstrated the possible mechanisms behind the neuroprotective action of extracts/compounds from the root of A. gigas. In the present review, we summarized the neuroprotective and cognitive enhancement effects of extracts and individual compounds from A. gigas root.

Lü J, Jiang C, Schell TD, Joshi M, Raman JD, Xing C. Angelica gigas: Signature Compounds, In Vivo Anticancer, Analgesic, Neuroprotective and Other Activities, and the Clinical Translation Challenges. Am J Chin Med. 2022;50(6):1475-1527. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X2250063X. 

Abstract. Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) root is a medicinal herbal widely used in traditional medicine in Korea. AGN root ethanolic extract dietary supplements are marketed in the United States for memory health and pain management. We comprehensively reviewed the anticancer, analgesic, pro-memory and other bio-activities of AGN extract and its signature phytochemicals decursin, decursinol angelate, and decursinol a decade ago in 2012 and updated their anticancer activities in 2015. In the last decade, significant progress has been made for understanding the pharmacokinetics (PK) and metabolism of these compounds in animal models and single dose human PK studies have been published by us and others. In addition to increased knowledge of the known bioactivities, new bioactivities with potential novel health benefits have been reported in animal models of cerebral ischemia/stroke, anxiety, sleep disorder, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, metabolic disorders, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and even male infertility. Herein, we will update PK and metabolism of pyranocoumarins, review in vivo bioactivities from animal models and human studies, and critically appraise the relevant active compounds, the cellular and molecular pharmacodynamic targets, and pertinent mechanisms of action. Knowledge gaps include whether human pyranocoumarin PK metrics are AGN dose dependent and subjected to metabolic ceiling, or metabolic adaptation after repeated use. Critical clinical translation challenges include sourcing of AGN extracts, product consistency and quality control, and AGN dose optimization for different health conditions and disease indications. Future research directions are articulated to fill knowledge gaps and address these challenges.

Kweon B, Han YH, Kee JY, Mun JG, Jeon HD, Yoon DH, Choi BM, Hong SH. Effect of Angelica gigas Nakai Ethanol Extract and Decursin on Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Molecules. 2020 Apr 27;25(9):2028. doi: 10.3390/molecules25092028. PMID: 32349276; PMCID: PMC7249139.

Abstract. Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most severe cancers, and its incidence and mortality rates have steadily increased in the past decade. In this study, we demonstrate the effect of Angelica gigas Nakai extract on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. We prepared A. gigas Nakai ethanol extract (AGE) using roots of A. gigas Nakai and detected its active compound decursin from AGE by ultra-performance liquid chromatography analysis. AGE and decursin significantly decreased viability and colony formation of PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. AGE and decursin induced G0/G1 phase arrest through downregulation of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4). Caspase-3-dependent apoptosis of PANC-1 cells was promoted by AGE and decursin. Additionally, nontoxic concentrations of AGE and decursin treatment could suppress matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression and activity by inhibiting p38 phosphorylation. Taken together, this study demonstrates that AGE and decursin have potential properties to be considered in PC treatment.