Angelica acutiloba

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Angelica acutiloba
Angelica acutiloba-01.jpg
A. acutiloba
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Angelica
Species:
A. acutiloba
Binomial name
Angelica acutiloba
Varieties
  • A. acutiloba var. acutiloba
  • A. acutiloba var. iwatensis
  • A. acutiloba Kitag. var. sugiyamae

Angelica acutiloba is a perennial herb from the family Apiaceae or Umbelliferous (carrot or parsley family). It is predominately in Japan and perhaps endemic (unique). [1] It is now distributed widely and cultivated in Jilin, China, [2] Korea, [2] Taiwan [3] and Indonesia. [2]

Contents

The common name of Angelica acutiloba is known as tōki (トウキ, 当帰) in Japanese. The root was used as a substitute for the crude drug tōki (当帰) in Kampō medicine (漢方製薬 Kanpō Seiyaku), which is a Japanese adaptation of Traditional Chinese medicine.

The Traditional Chinese medicine uses the root of a different species A. sinensis, Chinese :当归; pinyin :dāngguī. The Latin pharmacological name for the crude drug, Radix Angelica sinensis, refers to the dried roots of A. sinensis. In China, as a substitute species, A. acutiloba, is known as Chinese:东当归; pinyin:dōngdāngguī. Literally “东” means “eastern” or “东洋”, which is equivalent to the meaning of Japan. So the medicine is also called as Japanese Angelica root. (See #Etymology) The Japanese name, tōki (トウキ, 当帰), has a literally meaning like “recovering good health”. [4]

Taxonomy and distribution

A. acutiloba var. acutiloba grows in the banks and valleys, [5] from Honshu (North of Shiga Preecture)to Hokkaido. While A. acutiloba var. iwatensis grows in high altitude, mountainous terrains and grasslands, distributed throughout temperate areas. [5]

The crop cultivated in Nara Prefecture has been known as Yamato tōki or Ōfuka-tōki (the latter after Ōfukachō in Gojō, Nara), [3] reputedly superior to the Hokkaido-grown Hokkai tōki, and though the latter has been classed as a subspecies in the past, it is assigned a senior category of variety:

Description

A. acutiloba grows to about 0.3-1 meter high. The color of the stems is from reddish to purplish. The stems are erect, glabrous and thinly ribbed. The leaves are deep green, and alternately arranged, often in a leathery or fleshy texture. In most cases, the lower and basal leaves are petiolate or perfoliate. The petioles attached to them are about 10–30 cm in length. The mature blades are one or two pinnatified. Young blades are usually three pinnatifid.

The leaves are of variable sizes. The upper leaves are simplified to oblong, with lanceolate and dentate incised blades. The leaf lobes are about 2–9 cm long and 1–3 cm wide. Most leaves are sessile, but sometimes they bear short stalks. The tips of the mature leaves are acuminate to acute and the bases of them are cuneate to truncate. [7] [8] [9]

Angelica acutiloba subsp. iwatensis Angelica acutiloba subsp. iwatensis 2.JPG
Angelica acutiloba subsp. iwatensis

Flowers and fruits

Angelica acutiloba subsp. iwatensis Angelica acutiloba subsp. iwatensis.JPG
Angelica acutiloba subsp. iwatensis

The flowers are characterized as the inflorescence: a compound umbel. A. acutiloba's flowers are perfect or hermaphroditic and actinomorphic, with distinct calyx and white corolla. However, the calyx is often reduced with obsolete calyx teeth. The flowers have five petals, sepals, and stamens. The white petals are often obovate to oblong. The inflorescences contain fifteen to forty-five pubescent rays, 1–10 cm in length, which surround about thirty small disk flowers. The peduncles which hold the entire inflorescence are glabrous or pubescent and 5–20 cm long. While the stalks of each single flower in the flower clusters called pedicels, are thin and often sessile. The whorl of bracts beneath the inflorescences is called involucre. It consists of phyllaries, modified bracts, which are linear-lanceolate or linear and 1–2 cm long. It also consists of smaller young phyllaries, which are glabrous and 5–15 mm long. The androecium contains five stamens, while the gynoecium contains two carpels fused into a single pistil with an inferior, glabrous ovary. The plant blossoms from July to August. When mature, flowers secrete nectar. The strong floral scent attracts pollinators like insects. [7] [8] [9]

The fruits are schizocarps of two mericarps derived from mature fused carpels, often narrow-oblong with 4–5 mm in length and 1-1.5 mm in diameter. A single seed is formed with each mericarp. When mature, it is dispersed by wind. The cremocarp of the fruit is narrow-oblong and slightly flat. The oil tubes in the fruit, 3 or 4 vittae, form in wrinkles of ridges of the fruit, while 4 to 8 vittae can be found in commissure. The plant bears fruit from August to September. [7] [8] [9]

Roots

The color of the roots is dark brown to red-brown. The roots are cylindrical, 10–25 cm long and 1–2.5 cm thick in diameter. Numerous lateral horsetail-like branched roots, which are nearly fusiform and 0.2–1 cm in diameter, sprout out from the main tap root. The externals of the roots are covered with horizontal protrusions, numerous scars of fine rootlets, and longitudinal wrinkles, which are about 1.5–3 cm in diameter. [10] Dried roots are easy to break, while, moist roots are relatively soft. The roots contain yellow-white or light brown xylems. The roots have a pungent aromas and they have a slightly sweet taste and followed by a bitter taste. [10]

Cultivation and propagation

A. acutiloba grows in moist clay soils. It prefers sunlight, but can grow in shady woodland. Cool climate is suitable for its optimal cultivation. The sowing season is usually the spring during March and May. The plant may be affected by a variety of diseases. As a result, the leaves may wilt or become yellow. Pests like aphids, worms and mites may affect the plant growth as well. [8]

Cold temperature, water and sunlight are preferred for seed germination. In the spring, the seeds may germinate slower than in winter because of the warmer temperature. [11] In some cases, the seeds of A. acutiloba are sown in the first winter and moved to their permanent position at the beginning of next spring for their best germination. [11]

Chemistry

The extract of A. acutiloba roots contains many chemical constituents. It may contain about 2% volatile oils, such as ligustilide, n-butylidenephthalide, folic acid, linoleic acid, safrole, and isosafrole. [9]

Uses

Traditional medicine

The extract of A. acutiloba roots is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is considered a substitute for dang gui, Angelica sinensis . In Kampo medicine, A. acutioloba roots are used to treat gynaecological diseases in the female reproductive system. [8]

Angelica acutiloba Angelica acutiloba5026682Dang Gui .JPG
Angelica acutiloba

Other uses

The leaves of the plant are edible. A. acutiloba is used as an ornamental plant in gardens. The root extract can be used in cosmetics and act as a moisturizer, which may help to prevent the aging of the skin.

Toxicity and insecticidal properties

Angelica acutiloba contains furocoumarins, which increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis. [11] The furocoumarins produced by plants are toxic and often utilized as a self-defense mechanism to prevent plants from predators. According to a study, phthalides and furanocoumarins extracted from the A. acutiloba root can be utilized as a natural insecticide, and against larvae and adult Drosophila melanogaster . [12]

Etymology

The Japanese name tōki (当帰) is directly derived from the same Chinese characters simplified Chinese :当归; traditional Chinese :當歸 or Tang Kuei.(See wiktionary)

It is sometimes confusing between two species: A. sinensis and A. acutiloba. A. sinensis is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine and known as “当归”. Chinese denote A. acutiloba as “东当归”, meaning Japanese Danggui. However, A. sinensis in Japanese is known as kara-tōki (カラトウキ, 唐当帰, "Chinese tōki"), meaning Chinese Danggui. While Japanese have given name for A. acutiloba as tōki (トウキ, 当帰).

The Chinese characters "当归" or "當歸" literally mean “return”. In 'Shénnóng Běn Cǎo Jīng' (simplified Chinese :神农本草经; traditional Chinese :神農本草經), Angelica plant had been recorded as a very important herbal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. In ancient times, a husband might leave the house if his wife was suffering from a gynecological disease. The wife drank the medicine made from Angelica root. Surprisingly, her disease was cured. Meanwhile, her husband believed he should go home as his wife became healthy again. As a result, people gave name of the plant with the meaning of “return”. [13] But the fact is still uncertain.

Bencao Gangmu (本草綱目), written by Li Shizhen in the 17th century, provides an explanation of the original name of the plant. In ancient days, married women were responsible for bearing the offspring. Angelica root was a great medicine that could help to regulate women's blood flow, so it implied that her missing for her husband and she was ready to marry him. [14] [15] The meaning of the plant might also refer to "wedding or marriage" or "归嫁/帰嫁".

Related Research Articles

<i>Angelica</i> Genus of flowering plants

Angelica is a genus of about 90 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far north as Iceland, Lapland, and Greenland. They grow to 1–3 m tall, with large bipinnate leaves and large compound umbels of white or greenish-white flowers. Found mainly in China, its main use was for medicine. It shows variations in fruit anatomy, leaf morphology, and subterranean structures. The genes are extremely polymorphic.

<i>Magnolia stellata</i> Species of shrub or tree

Magnolia stellata, sometimes called the star magnolia, is a slow-growing shrub or small tree native to Japan. It bears large, showy white or pink flowers in early spring, before its leaves open. This species is closely related to the Kobushi magnolia, and is treated by many botanists as a variety or even a cultivar of that. However, Magnolia stellata was accepted as a distinct species in the 1998 monograph by Hunt.

<i>Camellia sinensis</i> Species of evergreen shrub

Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrub or small tree in the flowering plant family Theaceae. Its leaves and leaf buds are used to produce the popular beverage tea. Common names include tea plant, tea shrub, and tea tree.

<i>Angelica sinensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Angelica sinensis, commonly known as dong quai or female ginseng, is a herb belonging to the family Apiaceae, indigenous to China. Angelica sinensis grows in cool high altitude mountains in East Asia. The yellowish brown root of the plant is harvested in the fall and is a well-known Chinese medicine which has been used for thousands of years.

<i>Wisteria sinensis</i> Variety of legume

Wisteria sinensis, commonly known as the Chinese wisteria, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, native to China, in the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Yunnan. Growing 20–30 m (66–98 ft) tall, it is a deciduous vine. It is widely cultivated in temperate regions for its twisting stems and masses of scented flowers in hanging racemes, in spring.

<i>Platycodon</i> Species of plant

Platycodon grandiflorus is a species of herbaceous flowering perennial plant of the family Campanulaceae, and the only member of the genus Platycodon. It is native to East Asia. It is commonly known as balloon flower, Chinese bellflower, or platycodon.

<i>Baptisia australis</i> Species of legume

Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue wild indigo or blue false indigo, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae (legumes). It is a perennial herb native to much of central and eastern North America and is particularly common in the Midwest, but it has also been introduced well beyond its natural range. Naturally it can be found growing wild at the borders of woods, along streams or in open meadows. It often has difficulty seeding itself in its native areas due to parasitic weevils that enter the seed pods, making the number of viable seeds very low. The plant has low toxicity levels for humans.

<i>Anemone hepatica</i> Species of flowering plant

Anemone hepatica, the common hepatica, liverwort, kidneywort, or pennywort, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. This herbaceous perennial grows from a rhizome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Min County</span> County in Gansu, Peoples Republic of China

Min County or Minxian is administratively under the control of the prefecture-level city of Dingxi, in the south of Gansu province, China. In ancient times, it was known as Lintao County due to its location along the Tao River. It was founded as Minzhou (岷州) in 544, named after the Min Mountains in the south of the county. The county received its present name in 1913. In 1985 it became subordinate to Dingxi. Min county is well known by Angelica sinensis which is a Chinese traditional medicine.

<i>Commelina diffusa</i> Species of flowering plant

Commelina diffusa, sometimes known as the climbing dayflower or spreading dayflower, is a pantropical herbaceous plant in the dayflower family. It has been introduced to the southeastern United States where it is most common in wet disturbed soils. There are two recognised varieties, one being the type and the other being C. diffusa var. gigas, which is native to Asia and has been introduced to Florida. It flowers from spring to fall and is most common in disturbed situations, moist places and forests. In China the plant is used medicinally as a febrifuge and a diuretic. A blue dye is also extracted from the flower for paints. In the Hawaiian Islands, it is known as "honohono grass", although it is technically not a grass. "Honohono" refers to the alternating structure of the leaves. At least one publication lists it as an edible plant in New Guinea.

<i>Quercus aliena</i> Species of oak tree

Quercus aliena, the galcham oak or oriental white oak, is a species of oak in the family Fagaceae, in the white oak section Quercus.

<i>Hedera nepalensis</i> Species of vine

Hedera nepalensis is a species of perennial Ivy native to Nepal and Bhutan, as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, at altitudes of about 1000–3000 m. Plants grow up to 30 m in height, with simple leaves ranging from 2–15 cm long, and yellow flowers.

<i>Angelica dahurica</i> Species of flowering plant

Angelica dahurica, commonly known as Dahurian angelica, is a widely grown species of angelica native to Siberia, Russia Far East, Mongolia, Northeastern China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. This species tend to grow near river banks, along streams and among rocky shrubs. The root of the plant is widely used for its medicinal properties and is known to contain furanocoumarins and angelicotoxin.

<i>Pimpinella major</i> Species of flowering plant

Pimpinella major, common name greater burnet-saxifrage or hollowstem burnet saxifrage, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the genus Pimpinella belonging to the carrot family (Apiaceae).

<i>Paris polyphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Paris polyphylla is an Asian species of flowering plant native to China, the Indian Subcontinent, and Indochina. It produces spider-like flowers that throw out long, thread-like, yellowish green petals throughout most of the warm summer months and into the autumn. In the fall, the flowers are followed by small, scarlet berries. It is a perennial, which slowly spreads, is fully hardy in Britain, and survives in leafy, moist soil in either complete or partial shade.

<i>Lilium concolor</i> Species of lily

Lilium concolor is a species of flowering plant in the lily family which occurs naturally in China, Japan, Korea and Russia. Its relationship with other species is not clear, although it has some similarities to Lilium pumilum.

<i>Diospyros candolleana</i> Species of flowering plant

Diospyros candolleana, is a tree in the Ebony family, endemic to the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. The trees are usually 20m tall, and found as subcanopy trees in wet evergreen forests up to 90m.

<i>Achyranthes japonica</i> Species of flowering plant

Achyranthes japonica, commonly known as Oriental chaff flower or Japanese chaff flower, is a perennial member of the genus Achyranthes in the family Amaranthaceae. It can be discovered on the roadside and its main distribution is in Korea and Japan.

Saposhnikovia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. Its only species is Saposhnikovia divaricata, known as fángfēng防風 in Chinese, bangpung in Korean, and siler in English. The plant is still frequently referenced under the obsolete genus name Ledebouriella in many online sources devoted to traditional Chinese medicine. It was first described as Stenocoelium divaricatum by Nikolai Turczaninow in 1844, and transferred to Saposhnikovia in 1951.

Zanthoxylum echinocarpum is a woody plant in the family Rutaceae and is native to South-Central and Southeast China.

References

  1. Downie, Stephen R.; Watson, Mark F.; Spalik, Krzysztof; Katz-Downie, Deborah S. (2000). "Molecular systematics of Old World Apioideae(Apiaceae): relationships among some members of tribe Peucedaneae sensu lato, the placement of several island-endemic species, and resolution within the apioid superclade". Can. J. Bot. 78 (4): 506–528. doi:10.1139/cjb-78-4-506.
  2. 1 2 3 "Angelica acutiloba". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 Namba, Tsuneo (難波恒雄) (1970). 漢方薬入門 (Kampoyaku nyumon). Hoikusha., p.25
  4. Angelica acutiloba
  5. 1 2 Shaw, Wang & But 2002, p.171, quoting Gotoh et al., 1995
  6. "Bulletin of the National Science Museum(国立科学博物館研究報告)" (snippet). 1960: 2.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. 1 2 3 Flora of China: Angelica acutiloba
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Yamada, Haruki, Saiki, Ikuo, Juzen-taiho-to (Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang): Scientific Evaluation and Clinical Applications
  9. 1 2 3 4 Medicinal Plant Images Database(School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University): Angelica acutiloba Archived December 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  10. 1 2 Angelica acutiloba The Japanese Pharmacopoeia 15th edition access 2012
  11. 1 2 3 Plants for future: Angelica acutiloba
  12. Miyazawa, Mitsuo, Tsukamoto, Toshihiko, etc. (2004) Insecticidal Effect of Phthalides and Furanocoumarins from Angelica acutiloba against Drosophila melanogaster. J. Agric. Food Chem., 52 (14), pp 4401–4405 DOI: 10.1021/jf0497049
  13. The characteristics of Angelica acutiloba
  14. Yoshitomi, Hiroki(吉富)i. "当帰(とうき)⑬". Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  15. Journal of Practical Pharmacy (薬局). 4 (2). 1953.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link), 「即ち当帰の名は李時珍 15 に従えば帰は帰嫁の帰,夫を思うの意があり,夫当に帰るべしの諺による。」本草綱目