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Plant Source Foods
Published in Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy, Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease, 2022
Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy
Angelica or Radix Angelicae Sinensis (also named Dong Quai or Danggui in Chinese) is the dried root of Angelica sinensis (Apiaceae) which is a fragrant and perennial herb native to China, Japan, and Korea. It has been used in Chinese traditional medicine since antiquity (291–293). The chemical constituents of the Angelica extract are classified into essential oil and water-soluble parts. The volatile oil is constituted of many alkyl phthalides (ligustilides) and some terpenes. The water-soluble part or non-volatile fraction includes phenylpropanoids (ferulic acid, coniferyl ferulate), phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, organic acids, benzenoids, and coumarins. Polysaccharide fractions of low relative molecular mass are also present (291–293). In traditional Chinese medicine, Angelica root replenishes blood, promotes blood circulation, relieves pain, and moistens the intestines. It is used to treat chronic constipation and menstrual disorders (291–293). Research has found that Angelica and its active components have anti-hypertensive, antioxidant, anti-arthrosclerotic, and anti-inflammatory properties (293). However, the therapeutic properties of Angelica are still not approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization. Angelica should not be administered to children or patients with diarrhea, hemorrhage or hypermenorrhea, and should not be used during pregnancy or lactation (291–292). Some side effects such as headaches have been observed. Dried crude powder and fluid extracts of Angelica root are the two forms orally used (291–292).
The Orient
Published in Michael J. O’Dowd, The History of Medications for Women, 2020
The first reference to anesthetics in Chinese medicine came during the lifetime of the great Han physician, Hua Tuo (AD 141–208). He used narcotic preparations which included Indian hemp (Cannabis indica, also known as bhang, hashish and marihuana, a psychotropic), monkshood (Aconitum napellus, contains aconite, an analgesic and sedative) and a variety of thorn apple (Datura metel, from the Hindi, dhatura, and containing atropine and other alkaloids). He also introduced the therapeutic Kung-Fu exercises which were based on the rhythmic movements of the bear, crane, deer, monkey and tiger. Towards the close of the Han dynasty, most of the elements which make up Chinese medicine were already firmly in place. These included dietary regulations, science, sexual code, spiritual beliefs, therapeutic exercises, and herbal pharmacopoeia. Angelica (Angelica sinensis), the second most important Chinese tonic after ginseng, was used at the time for menstrual disorders and is still prescribed for the same reasons in China and in Western herbal medicine. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), ginger (Zingiber officinale), ginseng (Panax ginseng), pinellia (Pinellia ternata), and wormwood (Artemisia sp.) were also available for gynecological treatments. Those herbal remedies became popular in Europe and are still used.
Herbs with Antidepressant Effects
Published in Scott Mendelson, Herbal Treatment of Major Depression, 2019
Specific phytochemical components of Angelica sinensis have also been found to have anti-inflammatory properties that could contribute to antidepressant effects. Ferulic acid inhibits release of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) from mouse macrophages. Z-ligustilide inhibits activity of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and the intracellular activator of inflammation, NF-κB.11
Angelica sinensis polysaccharides alleviate the oxidative burden on hematopoietic cells by restoring 5-fluorouracil-induced oxidative damage in perivascular mesenchymal progenitor cells
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2023
Yilin Niu, Hanxianzhi Xiao, Biyao Wang, Ziling Wang, Kunhang Du, Yaping Wang, Lu Wang
Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Apiaceae) is a traditional Chinese herb that enrich blood and regulate blood circulation. Angelica sinensis polysaccharides (ASP), the main bioactive ingredients, have the effects of antioxidation, anti-aging, and antitumor (Liu et al. 2010; Ai et al. 2013; Wei et al. 2016). Our previous studies have demonstrated that ASP plays a significant role in antagonizing 5-FU to preserve the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production/scavenge balance, thus maintaining the physiological function of bone marrow stromal cells, HSCs, and hepatocytes (Mu et al. 2017; Zeng et al. 2021). Herein, we further suggest that the protective antioxidant effects of ASP on perivascular mesenchymal progenitors, the pivotal components of the hematopoietic niche, may play a role in delaying hematopoietic cell oxidative stress-induced premature senescence.
A novel nano material for anti-cerebral ischaemia: preparation and application of borneol angelica polysaccharide liposomes
Published in Journal of Liposome Research, 2023
Huang Ding, Ke Wang, Lin-Qin He, Xiao-Yu Yang, Hai-Hong Huang, Wen-Long Liu, Chen Xiao, Ze- Xuan Du, Lian- Yu, Wei Zhang
The traditional Chinese medicine Angelica sinensis has the effect of nourishing blood and promoting blood circulation and is commonly used in the treatment of cerebral ischaemia in the clinic. Angelica polysaccharide (AP) is an effective polysaccharide component extracted from Angelica sinensis, and its monosaccharide components include arabinose, rhamnose, galactose and glucose (Zhou et al.2020). Studies have shown that AP has an anti-cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion inflammatory reaction effect, which is of great significance for the treatment of cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury (Zhang et al.2010). However, AP has strong water solubility and has difficulty penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB); therefore, it is difficult to achieve a good treatment effect. The traditional Chinese medicine borneol can allow the drug to reach the brain and refresh the mind. Studies have shown that borneol can promote the drug permeability of the BBB (Chen et al.2019).
Evidence and potential mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Published in Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022
Dan Dai, Haoran Wu, Chunyan He, Xinmiao Wang, Yiqi Luo, Ping Song
The frequency of Chinese herbs used in the trials was ranked, and the mechanism of herbs with the top nine frequency was summarized and analyzed in Table 3. The most frequently used herb for PV is Radix Rehmanniae Recens. Catalpol is the main component of Radix Rehmanniae Recens, and it could improve the lesion of psoriasis by alleviating oxidative stress, activation of AMPK-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis, up-regulating expressions of cleaved Caspase-3 and PARP (31–33). The main component of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Tanshinone IIA has been confirmed its ability of anti-psoriasis. Besides antioxidation, it might inhibit the growth of KCs via enhancing activation of cleaved caspase-3 and PARP and improve depression via activating the ERK-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway (34–36). Angelica Sinensis polysaccharide could attenuate inflammation by repression of NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 pathways (24,37). Astilbin was found to improve differentiation in HaCaT KCs with suppression of KRT5 and KRT14 and induction of KRT1 and KRT10 (25,26,38). In addition to anti-inflammation, Shikonin might promote apoptosis and suppresses growth in KCs (39).