Angelica dahurica, commonly known as bai zhi, is a perennial plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. Native to Asia, particularly China, Siberia, and Japan, this species is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for its roots, which are known for their healing properties. It is recognized for its distinctive aroma and white flowers grouped in umbels.

Botanical Classification

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

Plant Characteristics

Angelica dahurica is a robust herb that can reach up to 2 meters in height. It has broad, segmented, bright green leaves. The flowers, which appear in summer, are small and white, arranged in large umbels that attract a variety of pollinators. The plant typically grows in moist, shaded locations, preferring well-drained soils.

Chemical Composition and Structure

The roots of Angelica dahurica contain a range of bioactive compounds, including coumarins, flavonoids, and essential oils. These components are believed to be responsible for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic properties. Additionally, the plant is researched for its potential in treating skin conditions such as acne.

How to Cultivate It

1. Soil: Prefers rich, well-drained soil.
2. Light: Grows best in partial shade conditions.
3. Water: Requires regular watering but without waterlogging.
4. Temperature: Cold-tolerant but needs protection during severe frosts.

Uses and Benefits

Traditionally, Angelica dahurica is used to treat colds, sinusitis, headaches, and skin disorders. Its roots are particularly valued for their purifying properties and are often used in decoctions and medicinal powders.

Applications

• Medicinal: Used for its roots in decoctions and as an extract for its healing properties.
• Cosmetic: Extracts are used in skincare products for their antibacterial and brightening properties.
• Ornamental Gardening: The plant is also cultivated for its ornamental value, thanks to its striking white flowers.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Cultivation of Angelica dahurica must be managed responsibly to preserve native species integrity. It is generally safe for use under the guidance of a health professional, but it can interact with other medications and may not be suitable for pregnant or nursing women without medical supervision.

References__________________________________________________________________________

Li D, Wu L. Coumarins from the roots of Angelica dahurica cause anti-allergic inflammation. Exp Ther Med. 2017 Jul;14(1):874-880. doi: 10.3892/etm.2017.4569. 

Abstract. Allergic inflammation is induced by allergens and leads to various allergic diseases, including rhinitis, asthma and conjunctivitis. Histamine is important in the pathogenesis of an immunoglobulin E-dependent allergic reaction and results in the secretion of cytokines associated with inflammation. Angelica dahurica (A. dahurica) is a medicinal plant widely used in China for the treatment of symptoms related to allergic inflammation. The present study investigated the chemical constituents from A. dahurica and evaluated their reductive effect on allergic inflammation. As a result, 15 compounds including 13 coumarins have been identified as isoimperatorin (1), imperatorin (2), oxypeucedanin (3), oxypeucedanin hydrate (4), bergapten (5), byakangelicin (6), phellopterin (7), byakangelicol (8), isopimpinellin (9), xanthotoxol (10), xanthotoxin (11), pimpinellin (12), scopoletin (13), β-sitosterol (14) and daucosterol (15). Compounds 1-13 were able to reduce the release of histamine, with compounds 4-6 exhibiting the most potent activity. Furthermore, compounds 1-12 were able to inhibit the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-4, with compounds 5 and 7 exhibiting the strongest inhibitory effects. These compounds implemented the inhibitory effects on the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes through the inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activation. Virtual screening by a docking program indicated that compound 3 is a potent histamine H1 receptor antagonist. Additionally, the calculated physicochemical properties of these compounds support most furanocoumarins to be delivered to binding sites and permeate the cell membrane. The present findings contribute to understanding how A. dahurica attenuates allergic inflammation.

Li C, Cai Q, Wu X, Tan Z, Yao L, Huang S, Zhang W, Hong Z, Chen Z, Zhang L. Anti-inflammatory Study on the Constituents of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Franch. & Sav., Angelica pubescence Maxim and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Essential Oils. J Oleo Sci. 2022 Aug 4;71(8):1207-1219. doi: 10.5650/jos.ess22031. 

Abstract. Umbelliferae plants, which are widely used as traditional Chinese medicine because of their characteristics of relieving rheumatism, alleviating fever, circulating blood and easing pain. This experimental study was based on ear edema model caused by 12-O-tetracycline-propylphenol-13-acetic acid (TPA) in mice and compared with the Ibuprofen (Ib) group. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyse the composition of the essential oils from the four studied Umbelliferae plants (Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, A. dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Franch. & Sav., A. pubescens Maxim and Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Biologically active components in volatile oils from the four studied Umbelliferae plants were evaluated. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and RelA (p65) in mouse skin were determined by immunohistochemical method. The refractive index of the four essential oils was calculated. A total of 239 compounds were identified by GC-MS from the four studied plants, and the main constituents were osthole (44.61%, APEOs), obepin (0.59%, APEOs & 86.58%, FVEOs), undecanol (8.58%, ADEOs), α-muurolene (7.95%, ADEOs) and cis-anethol (9.11%, ADEOs). E-ligustilide (0.14%, APEOs & 81.14%, ASEOs), (-)-spathulenol (0.08%, FVEOs & 1.21%, ASEOs), (-)-terpinen-4-ol (4.91%, FVEOs), 2-butylthiolane (5.76%, APEOs) and α-bisabolol (3.80%, APEOs). This study showed that all the essential oils from the four studied Umbelliferae plants contained various lactones, including ligustrongolactone, trans-anisol and imperatorin. According to the results of the TPA induction test in the mouse ear edema model, the essential oils of four Umbelliferae plants reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, COX-2, IL-6 and p65. All of them showed extraordinary biological activity in anti-inflammatory, so they have potential application value for biomedical products, pharmaceutical preparations, natural functional nutrients and cosmetic additives.

Chao YH, Yang WT, Li MC, Yang FL, Lee RP. Angelica dahurica and Rheum officinale Facilitated Diabetic Wound Healing by Elevating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Am J Chin Med. 2021;49(6):1515-1533. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X21500713. 

Abstract. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides alternative treatment choices for diabetic wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Angelica dahurica and Rheum officinale (ARE) on diabetic wounds and its underlying action mechanism. A total of 36 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: diabetes mellitus (DM) rats treated with ARE (DM-ARE), DM rats treated with 0.9% saline (DM-NS), and non-DM rats treated with 0.9% saline (NDM-NS). DM was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin after a 2-week high-fat diet feeding. After excisional skin wounds and treatments, the remaining wound area (RWA) in each group was measured. The RWA in the DM-NS group (69.60% ± 2.35%) was greater than that in the DM-ARE (55.70% ± 1.85%) and NDM-NS groups (52.50% ± 2.77%) on day 6. Besides, the DM-ARE group showed higher vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), higher inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs), higher [Formula: see text]-smooth muscle actin ([Formula: see text]-SMA), and lower nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-[Formula: see text]B) expression in the wound skin tissue. These results showed that treatment with ARE shifted the recovery pattern of diabetic rats to the pattern of nondiabetic rats, indicating that ARE may improve wound healing in diabetic conditions.

Gu DR, Yang H, Kim SC, Hwang YH, Ha H. Water Extract of Angelica dahurica Inhibits Osteoclast Differentiation and Bone Loss. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Sep 28;24(19):14715. doi: 10.3390/ijms241914715. 

Abstract. Angelica dahurica radix has a long history of traditional use in China and Korea for treating headaches, cold-damp pain and skin diseases. Despite various pharmacological studies on A. dahurica, its impact on bones remains unclear. Hence, this study investigated the inhibitory effect of A. dahurica's radix water extract (WEAD) on osteoclast differentiation. In vitro experiments showed that WEAD effectively suppresses osteoclast differentiation. Treatment of an osteoclast precursor with WEAD significantly suppressed the expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1 (NFATc1), essential transcription factor for osteoclastogenesis, while increasing the expression of negative regulators, interferon regulatory factor 8 (Irf8) and v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B (MafB). Consistent with the in vitro findings, the oral administration of WEAD (100 and 300 mg/kg/day) to mice subjected to surgical ovariectomy for a duration of six weeks alleviated bone loss, while also mitigating weight gain and liver fat accumulation. In addition, we also identified phytochemicals present in WEAD, known to regulate osteoclastogenesis and/or bone loss. These results suggest the potential use of WEAD for treating various bone disorders caused by excessive bone resorption.

Hu Y, Lei S, Yan Z, Hu Z, Guo J, Guo H, Sun B, Pan C. Angelica Dahurica Regulated the Polarization of Macrophages and Accelerated Wound Healing in Diabetes: A Network Pharmacology Study and In Vivo Experimental Validation. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Jun 21;12:678713. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.678713.