Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) Research

Latin Name: Angelica sinensis

Family: Apiaceae

Also called female ginseng, dong quai is an herb that has been used as a female health tonic: for menstrual complaints and menopausal symptoms.

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

GENERAL

• Natural Medicines (2017).  Dong Quai Monograph.  Retrieved in June, 2017.  Retrieved from www.naturalmedicines.com.

MENSTRUATION

• In a randomized study of forty-nine patients, a daily blend of 60 mg soy isoflavones, 100 mg dong quai, and 50 mg black cohosh, for 24 weeks reduced the frequency of menstrually associated migraine headaches.  From:  Bai, W., Henneicke-von Zepelin, H. H., Wang, S., Zheng, S., Liu, J., Zhang, Z., … & Liske, E. (2007). Efficacy and tolerability of a medicinal product containing an isopropanolic black cohosh extract in Chinese women with menopausal symptoms: a randomized, double blind, parallel-controlled study versus tibolone. Maturitas, 58(1), 31-41.

​​HEPATOPROTECTIVE

• Angelica sinensis polysaccharides-enriched fraction prevented liver toxicity induced by acetaminophen in mice.   From:  Ye, Y. N., Liu, E. S. L., Li, Y., So, H. L., Cho, C. C. M., Sheng, H. P., … & Cho, C. H. (2001). Protective effect of polysaccharides-enriched fraction from Angelica sinensis on hepatic injury. Life Sciences, 69(6), 637-646.

​​ANTIOXIDANT

• Angelica sinensis (dong quai), Lycium barbarum (boxthorn), and Poria cocos (Fu-ling) showed antioxidant activities on rat liver.  From:  Wu, S. J., Ng, L. T., & Lin, C. C. (2004). Antioxidant activities of some common ingredients of traditional chinese medicine, Angelica sinensis, Lycium barbarum and Poria cocos. Phytotherapy Research, 18(12), 1008-1012.

​IMMUNITY

• In a study of 105 cancer patients, a six week treatment of citronellol combined with three Chinese herbs (Ganoderma lucidum, Codonopsis pilosula and Angelicae sinensis) had an immunomodulating function, improving lymphocytes and natural killer cell counts.  From:  Zhuang, S. R., Chen, S. L., Tsai, J. H., Huang, C. C., Wu, T. C., Liu, W. S., … & Yang, C. H. (2009). Effect of citronellol and the Chinese medical herb complex on cellular immunity of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives, 23(6), 785-790.

ANTI-CANCER

• In Chinese patients with gastric cancer, mortality was decreased in Angelica sinensis users versus nonusers.  From:  Liao, K. F., Chiu, T. L., Huang, S. Y., Hsieh, T. F., Chang, S. F., Ruan, J. W., … & Chiu, S. C. (2018). Anti-Cancer Effects of Radix Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) and N-Butylidenephthalide on Gastric Cancer: Implications for REDD1 Activation and mTOR Inhibition. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, 48(6), 2231-2246.
• Arabinogluca from the roots of Angelica sinensis significantly inhibited the proliferation of human cervix carcinoma cells and lung carcinoma cells in vitro, and inhibited the growth of tumors in mice.  From:  Cao, W., Li, X. Q., Liu, L., Yang, T. H., Li, C., Fan, H. T., … & Mei, Q. B. (2006). Structure of an anti-tumor polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. Carbohydrate Polymers, 66(2), 149-159.
• A polysaccharide found in Angelica sinensis showed strong antitumor activity in mice.  From:  Choy, Y. M., Leung, K. N., Cho, C. S., Wong, C. K., & Pang, P. K. (1994). Immunopharmacological studies of low molecular weight polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis. The American journal of Chinese medicine, 22(2), 137.
• Dong quai had an effect against colon cancer cells in vitro.  From:  Kan, W. L. T., Cho, C. H., Rudd, J. A., & Lin, G. (2008). Study of the anti-proliferative effects and synergy of phthalides from Angelica sinensis on colon cancer cells. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 120(1), 36-43.
• Aqueous extracts of Angelica sinensis root were cytotoxic in vitro against mouse skin cancer cells.  From:  Raman, A., Lin, Z. X., Sviderskaya, E., & Kowalska, D. (1996). Investigation of the effect of Angelica sinensis root extract on the proliferation of melanocytes in culture. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 54(2-3), 165-170.
• Angelica sinensis had an in vitro and in vivo antumor effect in mice brain cells.  From:  Tsai, N. M., Lin, S. Z., Lee, C. C., Chen, S. P., Su, H. C., Chang, W. L., & Harn, H. J. (2005). The antitumor effects of Angelica sinensis on malignant brain tumors in vitro and in vivo. Clinical cancer research, 11(9), 3475-3484.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 7/9/19