Angelica Gigas Root Extract is derived from the roots of the Angelica gigas (Apiaceae) plant, commonly known as Korean angelica or dong quai. This herbal extract has been traditionally used in Korean medicine for its various health benefits. In cosmetic formulations, Angelica Gigas Root Extract is valued for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-soothing properties. It helps to improve skin texture, enhance hydration, and promote a healthier complexion.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Angelica Gigas Root Extract contains:

• Phytochemicals: Rich in flavonoids, coumarins, and phenolic compounds that provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Vitamins: Contains vitamins A, C, and E, essential for maintaining healthy skin.
• Essential Oils: Contribute to its characteristic aroma and provide additional therapeutic benefits.
• Minerals: Provides essential minerals that support skin health.

The unique composition of Angelica Gigas Root Extract allows it to effectively nourish, protect, and revitalize the skin.

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Typically a brown to dark brown liquid or viscous extract.

• Solubility: Soluble in water and alcohol; limited solubility in oils.

• pH: Generally neutral to slightly acidic, ensuring compatibility with various cosmetic formulations.

• Odor: Earthy, herbal scent characteristic of angelica.

• Stability: Stable under normal storage conditions; should be protected from excessive heat and light.

Production Process

1. Harvesting: The roots of the Angelica gigas plant are harvested during the appropriate season for maximum potency.

2. Extraction: The roots are processed to obtain the extract, often using methods such as steam distillation or solvent extraction to retain beneficial properties.

3. Purification: The extract is purified to remove impurities and ensure a high-quality product.

4. Formulation: Purified Angelica Gigas Root Extract is incorporated into various cosmetic products to enhance their soothing and nourishing properties.

Applications

• Medical: Used in topical formulations for its soothing properties and ability to reduce skin irritation and inflammation.

• Cosmetics: Commonly found in creams, lotions, and serums for its antioxidant and skin-conditioning benefits. It improves skin texture and promotes a healthy appearance.

INCI Functions:

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Waving and straightening agent for hair. It is an ingredient that enables straightening and/or waving by permanently changing the shape or configuration of the keratinous hair fibres.

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.

• Industrial Uses: May be employed in formulations requiring natural extracts with beneficial properties.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Generally regarded as safe for topical application, however, like all extracts, it should be used in accordance with established guidelines to avoid potential allergic reactions or skin irritations. 

People with allergies or very sensitive skin should be careful. 

It is important to ensure that the extract is sustainably sourced and free from harmful chemicals.

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.