Detailed Explanation of the Botanical Characteristics of Different Species of Angelica
There are more than 40 species of Angelica plants in China. Some plants have effects similar to Angelica sinensis, and a few varieties are also used medicinally as Angelica in certain regions. The main varieties include whole Angelica and Dong Angelica (Angelica acutiloba). In addition, there are some counterfeit products on the market that are similar to Angelica but have different effects, which are processed and mixed in as Angelica. Those discovered so far include Lovage (Levisticum officinale), Peucedanum decursivum, wild Angelica, Angelica pubescens f. biserrata, and Angelica gigas. For commercial procurement and clinical application, it is necessary to identify Angelica and its confusable varieties based on their properties. Commonly used Angelica includes:
1. Angelica: also known as whole Angelica, Minxian Angelica, Western Angelica, is the dried root of the perennial plant of the Apiaceae family [Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels], and is the genuine Angelica.
Whole Angelica is 15-25 cm long, slightly cylindrical, with a yellowish-brown or dark brown surface, having longitudinal wrinkles and transverse elliptical lenticels, with an oily feel. The head is slightly swollen, with annular striations, and a rounded blunt apex, with purple or yellow-green residual leaf sheaths and stem bases. The body is thick and short, 1-3 cm long, with 3-5 or more branch roots below, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, mostly twisted. The texture is soft and flexible, the cross-section is yellowish-brown, the cortex is pale, nearly light white, loose with fissures, the phloem is darker in color with brown oil dots, the cambium is brown, ring-shaped, the xylem is lighter in color with brown radial striations, and the central pith is very large, appearing off-white. It has a rich aroma, tastes sweet and pungent, slightly bitter.
2. Dong Angelica is the dried root of the Apiaceae plant Angelica acutiloba (Siebet Zucc) Kitag. Dong Angelica is warm in nature, bitter and pungent in taste, and has the same effects as Angelica. It is mainly produced in Jilin, and is commonly used by the Korean ethnic group in Jilin Province.
The root is slightly cylindrical, with a surface that is earthy yellow, brownish-yellow, or brownish-brown. The body surface has fine longitudinal wrinkles and transversely protruding lenticel-like scars or branch root marks. The main root is thick and short, the root head is enlarged, with fine annular striations, and the top center is sunken or slightly sunken, with pale yellow or yellowish-white petiole and stem base marks. When dry, the texture is brittle, the fracture surface is neat, the cortex is off-white, the xylem is yellowish-white or yellowish-brown, and the formation ring is pale yellowish-brown. It has a fragrant odor, tastes sweet and then slightly bitter.
The counterfeit products are as follows, and attention should be paid to identification:
1. Lovage (Levisticum officinale Koch) is a counterfeit of Angelica. Unlike Angelica, excessive consumption can cause vomiting, dizziness, and other discomforts.
The root is slightly cylindrical, with a total length of 20-35 cm. The surface is grayish-brown, with longitudinal wrinkles and transversely elongated lenticel-like scars, dry and without an oily feel. The root head is relatively enlarged, with 2-5 clustered stem residues. The main root is thick and long, generally about 10 cm long, with several branch roots below, mostly straight. The texture is slightly flexible, the cross-section is brownish-yellow, the cambium is grayish-brown or brown, ring-shaped, the xylem is yellow, and the central pith is pale yellow or yellowish-white. When semi-dry, it has the aroma of Angelica; after drying, the odor is faint, and the taste is slightly sweet and numbing to the tongue.
2. Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim. is called soil Angelica, grass Angelica, or wild Angelica in some regions, and is one of the counterfeit products of ancient Angelica.
The main root is irregularly conical, 3-6 cm long, 1.8-2 cm in diameter, with a brownish-brown surface, having longitudinal wrinkles, leaf base marks at the top, and several branch roots growing below. The branch roots are 6-9 cm long, 0.5-0.8 cm in diameter, with longitudinal wrinkles on the surface and transversely protruding lenticel-like scars. The texture is hard or flexible, easily broken, the cortex of the cross-section is brownish-brown, and the xylem is yellowish-brown. It has no Angelica aroma, and the taste is slightly pungent.
3. Angelica pubescens Maxim f. biserrata Shan et Yuan is produced in Hubei, Sichuan, and other provinces. It is one of the counterfeit products of Angelica, and its dried root is the traditional Chinese medicine Duhuo, which must not be used as Angelica.
The root is slightly cylindrical, 10-30 cm long, 1-3 cm in diameter. The top is flat and round, with dense annular stem and leaf residues or sunken stem marks, and 3-5 branches below. The surface is grayish-brown or brownish-brown, rough, with prominent longitudinal wrinkles and transversely protruding lenticels. The texture is relatively hard, becoming soft when absorbing moisture. The cortex of the cross-section is grayish-white, with fissures, scattered with yellowish-brown to brown oil dots, the cambium shows a brown ring band, and the xylem is yellow. It has a distinctive aroma, tastes bitter, pungent, and slightly numbing to the tongue.
4. Wild Angelica (Ligusticum glaucescens Fr.) is a counterfeit of Angelica.
The root is conical, with 1 or several branches, commonly dichotomous branching. The main root is 1-3.5 cm long, 1-3 cm in diameter. The branch roots vary in length, 0.4-0.8 cm in diameter. The surface is brown, reddish-brown, or blackish-brown. The root head has transverse annular striations, and the top has residual marks of petioles and stems or becomes a dead cavity. The whole body is plump, or some have longitudinal wrinkles or lenticel-like scars. The texture is hard, and the cross-section is yellowish-white. It has a slight Angelica-like aroma, tastes slightly sweet and then bitter, and slightly numbing to the tongue.
5. Angelica gigas Nakai is a counterfeit of Angelica.
The root head is short and thick, 2-5 cm long, 2-3 cm in diameter. The surface has transverse annular striations, the top has leaf base marks, and several branch roots grow below. The branch roots are 5-15 cm long, 0.5-1 cm in diameter. The surface has longitudinal wrinkles and numerous transversely protruding lenticel-like scars. Exuded brownish-brown viscous resin-like substances are also visible. The texture is brittle, the cortex of the cross-section is grayish-white, and the xylem is yellowish-white. It has a fragrant odor, tastes slightly sweet and then pungent and bitter.