A review of the historical records, chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and edibility of Angelica dahurica

Abstract

Background: Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Franch. & Sav. (AD) is a tall perennial herb named Baizhi in Chinese Medical Works. Its medicinal use was first recorded in Shennong's Classic of Material Medical, the first herbal monograph in ancient China. Aim of the review: This review systematically summarises and evaluates traditional applications, botany, chemistry, and pharmacology of AD. This review aims to support the researchers who would like to explore its further potential as a medical agent. Materials and methods: The information was collected from Web of Science (https://www.webofscience.com), PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), CNKI (https://kns.cnki.net), Dissertations, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and Government documents. The keyword used in the literature search was Angelica dahurica. The chemical structures of the compounds in AD were obtained from either research articles or PubChem. The historical origin and ethnopharmacology of AD were reviewed in detail. In addition, relevant information was obtained from regional and global unpublished sources. The plant's name and its classifications were confirmed using the Medicinal Plant Name Service (http://mpns.kew.org) and Plants of the World Online (https://powo.science.kew.org). Results: Over time, AD has been used extensively for its medicinal uses. The bioactive chemical compound present in it is imperatorin (IMP). It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and other therapeutic effects, and it is used as a marker for the quality evaluation of AD. The most studied part of the plant is the root. The root contains coumarins and volatile oil. Modern science has found that AD has the ability to treat skin wounds, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-depressant, and antioxidant effects, etc. Conclusions: This paper presents a detailed comparative analysis of available resources, confirming the origin, traditional applications, and therapeutic uses of AD. Most importantly, it is widely welcomed as a therapeutic drug. The results of several studies showed that the chemical components of AD were more deeply involved in the central nervous system and histopathological mechanisms. Moreover, AD not only has medical effects but also can be used as food condiments and food accessories.

Keywords

• Angelica dahurica
• Medicinal use
• Chemical composition
• Pharmacological effects
• Pharmacokinetics
• Edibility