Influence of harvest stage on the pharmacological effect of Angelica dahurica

Abstract

BackgroundBaizhi (Angelica dahurica) has been widely used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, functional food and cosmetic product ingredient, mostly because of the high furanocoumarin compounds in roots. The cropping system of Baizhi with its unique summer dormancy feature, is easily affected by the transition of its growth stages. The aim of this study was to analyze the quantity (size, form and dry weight [DW]) and quality (antioxidant and furanocoumarin content) of taproot and lateral root from three growth stages of Baizhi; vegetative (V-stage), summer dormancy (S-stage) and bolting stage (B-stage).ResultsRoot length and diameter were lower at V-stage than the other two stages, and S-stage had higher lateral root to total root ratio. However, the highest root DW was observed at S-stage. Antioxidant activity was revealed by 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl and Fe2+ chelating assay, and the content of six furanocoumarin compounds, including xanthotoxin, bergapten, oxypeucedanin, imperatorin, phellopterin and isoimperatorin, was analyzed by liquid chromatography. Although the antioxidant activity was less at S-stage than the other stages, furanocoumarin contents showed little variation.ConclusionConsidering the high DW and stable furanocoumarin composition, S-stage is the best harvest stage than the other stages because of its richer total pharmacological content.

Botanical Sources, Chemistry, Analysis, and Biological Activity of Furanocoumarins of Pharmaceutical Interest

“…Indeed, its taproot and lateral roots have shown different patterns of furanocoumarins, according to their harvest stage, with different compounds providing yields variable up to 50% at different harvest stages. As a rule of thumb, when below-ground are to be collected, a general suggestion seems to be focused on the summer dormancy stage as the best harvest period, because of its richer total furanocoumarin content [41]. To maximize furanocoumarins’ yield, the optimal collection time for aerial parts is therefore represented by early spring and any sampling for analytical purpose should precisely describe the time of collection for the plant material.…”

Total Tocopherols, Carotenoids, and Fatty Acids Content Variation of Pistacia atlantica from Different Organs’ Crude Oils and Their Antioxidant Activity during Development Stages

“…[17] The effect of the harvest time and the ripening stages on a variety of plant species has been studied in different levels, chief among them: physiological maturity, [18] phytoconstituents quantity and quality, [19,20] biological activities. [21,22] Several studies dealt with the influence of seasonal harvest on P. atlantica Desf. leaves essential oils in term of quantity and quality of their chemical components, [23] and with the ripening degree effect on the variation of their fruits oils phytoconstituents.…”

Pharmacokinetic UPLC–MS/MS studies on byakangelicol after oral and intravenous administration to rats

“…Shan et Yuan, with the Chinese name Baizhi, has been widely used as a herb and spice for more than 2000 years [3,4]. Significant pharmacological activities were found in Baizhi, such as anti-inflammation, analgesia, inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms, anti-tumor, and liver protection [5][6][7]. Therefore, Baizhi attracted wide scientific attention [8][9][10].…”