Angelica sinensis (root)

Introduction

Introduction from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelica_sinensis, retrieved 02/20/2012).

Angelica sinensis, commonly known as "dong quai" or "female ginseng" is a herb from the family Apiaceae, indigenous to China.

Its dried root is commonly known in Chinese as Radix Angelicae Sinensis, or Chinese angelica (simplified Chinese: 当归; traditional Chinese: 當歸; pinyin: dāngguī; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tong-kui) and is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat gynecological ailments, fatigue, mild anemia and high blood pressure. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and sedative effects. The plant's phytochemicals consist of coumarins, phytosterols, polysaccharides, ferulate, and flavonoids. It has antioxidant activity.

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Microscopic Entries

Orange brown oddly shaped cork of Angelica sinensis viewed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydratecellular structures identified in Angelica sinensis are the brown oddly shaped cork and the scalariform vessel in longitudinal view when observed at 400x magnification with Acidified Chloral Hydrate. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories