A Review of the Botany, Traditional Use, Phytochemistry, Analytical Methods, Pharmacological Effects, and Toxicity of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix

Abstract

Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (AP), as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used for thousands of years in China. In this paper, the botany, traditional use, phytochemistry, analytical methods, quality control, pharmacological effects, and toxicity of AP were reviewed. It can provide a reference for the further research and lay a foundation for the rational clinical application of AP. The relevant information on AP was collected from scientific databases (such as Baidu Scholar, CNKI, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and SciFinder Scholar), Chinese herbal classics, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, PhD and MSc dissertations, and so on. The components which have been isolated and identified in AP include coumarins, volatile oils, organic acids, terpenes, polysaccharides, flavonoids, sterols, and trace elements. Most of them were analyzed by HPLC and GC. A pharmacological study shows that the AP has extensive pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antirheumatism, sedative and hypnotic, neuroprotection, antioxidation, antitumor, and allergy, and it is widely used in the treatment of the rheumatoid arthritis, knee osteoarthritis, lumbar disc, ankylosing spondylitis, headaches, stroke hemiplegia, Alzheimer’s, and arrhythmia. AP is a valuable natural medicinal plant. So far, significant advances have been made in phytochemistry and pharmacology. Some traditional uses have been demonstrated by modern pharmacology. However, the chemical components and pharmacological effects of AP are complex and varied, and there are different standards for the evaluation of its quality and efficacy. The mechanism of action, the structure-activity relationship among the components, and the potential synergistic and antagonistic effects remain to be studied. At the same time, there are few studies on the specific compounds related to its pharmacodynamics. In order to better develop and utilize AP, we should establish a more reasonable, reliable, and accurate quality control standard and focus on the study of bioactive constituents and the demonstration of their mechanism of action.

Potential Therapeutic Mechanism of Radix Angelicae Biseratae and Dipsaci Radix Herb Pair against Osteoarthritis: Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

“…Clinical statistical studies have shown that DXHP is one of the most frequently used Chinese medicine pairs in the treatment of OA [23]. In modern pharmacological research, the active ingredients in DH are linked to antioxidant, antiinfammatory, and analgesic efects [24], while the active components of XD purportedly protect against bone loss, promote cartilage formation, and improve bone metabolism [25]. In addition, the pharmacological compatibility mechanism of DXHP is similarly refected in the TCM theory.…”

Comparison of Pharmacokinetic Profiles of 14 Major Bioactive Components in Normal and Arthritic Model Rats after Oral Administration of Angelicae pubescentis Radix by UPLC-MS/MS

“…f. biserrata Shan et Yuan. It has the functions of removing wind and dehumidification and relieving paralytic pain [ 13 ]. Clinically, it has a good clinical effect on arthritis [ 14 ].…”

“…In addition, some studies have shown that phenolic acid compounds also have a certain anti-inflammatory effect [ 19 ]. However, the current research study on the antiarthritic effect of APR is limited to the level of pharmacodynamics and pharmacodynamic material basis, and there are few pharmacokinetic studies of its active components, and most of the pharmacokinetic studies of APR have been conducted in normal experimental animals [ 13 , 15 , 20 , 21 ]. For example, Qian et al used HPLC-DAD to determine columbianetin in normal rat plasma [ 22 ].…”

“…For high-resolution mass spectrometry with lower limit of detection, the researchers may use a single positive ion mode to scan coumarin compounds, which excludes phenolic acids that respond better in negative ion mode. Therefore, we established an UPLC-MS/MS method with positive and negative ion exchange scanning mode for the simultaneous determination of phenolic acids and coumarin compounds [ 13 , 14 ].…”

“…Clinically, it has a good clinical effect on arthritis [14]. In addition, modern pharmacological studies have shown that APR also has anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, sedative, hypnotic, and neuroprotective effects [15] and contains a variety of chemical components, such as coumarins, phenolic acids, terpenoids, volatile oils, and polysaccharides [13]. Among them, coumarin compounds are one of the main active ingredients of APR to play an antiarthritic role [16][17][18].…”