Common Names: Chinese angelica, in China: dang gui, tang-kwei, tang-kuei
The root of Angelica sinensis dried, is yellowish-brown and thick-branched . It grows at high altitudes in China, Korea, and Japan.
Dong quai is available as dried whole root, sliced root, powdered root, encapsulated powdered root and extracts, tablets and tinctures. 1
Dong quai contains seven coumarin derivatives, which are capable of dilating vessels, stimulating the uterus and the central nervous system (osthol), and fighting spasms. Linear furanocoumarins, however, such as the constituent bergapten (5-methoxypsorlen), imperatorin, and psoralen, ingested in large quantities, are prone to cause photosensitization which may result in dermatitis. 2
Dong quai also produces an essential oil which contains the spasmolytic lactones angelicide, butylidenephthalide, butylphthalide and ligustilide; safrole and isosafrole, as well as the analgesic and anti-inflammatory phenylpropanoid, ferulic acid, and the ubiquitous phytosterol, β-sitosterol. Additionally present in the essential oil is a varied assortment of monoterpenes and sequiterpenes, including cadinene and carvacrol, as well as n-dodecanol, n-tetradecane and n-tetradecanol. 1 The vasodilative nicotinic acid has also been reported. 3
Common Names: Chinese angelica, in China: dang gui, tang-kwei, tang-kuei
The root of Angelica sinensis dried, is yellowish-brown and thick-branched . It grows at high altitudes in China, Korea, and Japan.
Dong quai is available as dried whole root, sliced root, powdered root, encapsulated powdered root and extracts, tablets and tinctures. 1
Dong quai contains seven coumarin derivatives, which are capable of dilating vessels, stimulating the uterus and the central nervous system (osthol), and fighting spasms. Linear furanocoumarins, however, such as the constituent bergapten (5-methoxypsorlen), imperatorin, and psoralen, ingested in large quantities, are prone to cause photosensitization which may result in dermatitis. 2
Dong quai also produces an essential oil which contains the spasmolytic lactones angelicide, butylidenephthalide, butylphthalide and ligustilide; safrole and isosafrole, as well as the analgesic and anti-inflammatory phenylpropanoid, ferulic acid, and the ubiquitous phytosterol, β-sitosterol. Additionally present in the essential oil is a varied assortment of monoterpenes and sequiterpenes, including cadinene and carvacrol, as well as n-dodecanol, n-tetradecane and n-tetradecanol. 1 The vasodilative nicotinic acid has also been reported. 3
Vitamin B12 is found in the dried root in significant amounts (0.25 to 0.4 mcg/100 grams of dried root), in addition to folic acid, folinic acid and nicotinic acid, found in the root; also reported are lesser quantities of vitamins A and E, biotin, carotene and pantothinic acid. 8 This may partially explain the beneficial effects of dong quai on anemia.
The water-soluble fractions found in dong quai stimulate the uterus, while the alcohol-soluble constituents promote relaxation through the essential oil. 3 Animal models have reported a progestational effect, not a direct estrogenic activity of dong quai, which would be helpful in many cases of premenstrual syndrome. 4
Dong quai may have anti-thrombotic properties through its inhibition of platelet activation and aggregation. 9
Sung and associates have concluded that there is some validity to the reported use of dong quai for prevention and relieve of allergic symptoms. Immunosuppressive activity observed in mice, by both oral and intraperitoneal administration of a root extract, could indicate a novel approach to treating a topic diseases such as hayfever, asthma, and a topic dermatitis, to which individuals sensitive to a variety of environmental factors are susceptible. 10
The essential oil of dong quai contains safrole, a potentially hazardous substance, and the basis for the U.S. band on sassafras, but present in relatively much lesser amounts in dong quai.
Since pertinent safety data are lacking, dong quai is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women. 4
Dong quai should not be used during pregnancy, particularly during the first three months, or by women with a history of spontaneous abortion. 11
A recent study 14 which evaluated the estrogenic activity of various plant extracts found that a methanolic extract of dong quai exhibited no estrogenic activity with regard to alkaline-phosphate induction and estrogen-positive endometrial carcinoma cells. The extract was only weakly active at inducing up-regulation of progesterone receptor m RNA. The extract did not bind to human recombinant α – and β-type estrogen receptors and only weakly stimulated expression of an estrogen-inducible gene in a line of estradiol-responsive breast cancer cells.
Another double-blind, placebo controlled study on 71 postmenopausal women examined the estrogenic effects of dong quai over a 24-week period. 6 The women received a dried dong quai extract (standardized to 0.5 mg/kg ferulic acid) at a dose of three 500 mg capsules 3 times daily or a placebo. Results found that dong quai did not promote endometrial proliferation or increased maturation of vaginal epithelial cells, indicating that dong quai did not produce an estrogenic effect. However, dong quai was well-tolerated with no serious side effects and the level of symptoms decreased with dong quai, even though no significant difference o was observed between the dong quai group and placebo. 6
In a test of human saliva for estrogenic activity, following ingestion of dong quai by female volunteers, estradiol levels were found consistently very low, suggesting suppression of estradiol synthesis. 15
A standard daily dosage for Dong quai can range from 3 to 15 grams daily. However, it is predominantly found in herbal combinations, since traditional Chinese medicine almost never uses herbs as single agents, but combines them into complex formulas. . 4
Dong quai has been used in Chinese and other traditional Far Eastern medicines as a spice, tonic/tonifier (a product designed to restore normal function over time), and as a drug. 1
It has also been used to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery, and treatment of gynecological problems, such as irregular periods, menstrual cramps and menstrual-related weakness, infertility, and vaginal infection discharges. 1
Dong quai has a traditional use as an antispasmodic and has been used to help prevent and treat allergy symptoms. It has also been used for controlling anemia, alleviating headaches due to blood deficiency, managing high blood pressure, reducing ulcers, relieving constipation, controlling rheumatism, and “purifying” the blood. 1, 2
Modern use of dong quai in the United States is for the treatment of menstrual disorders and menopausal symptoms in women. 2, 5 However, a well designed 1997 study with donq quai measured estrogenic outcomes and found the herb ineffective in the treatment of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and attendant sweating. 6 It should be noted though that Chinese sources do not regard dong quai as estrogenic and in traditional Chinese medicine is used for treating menstrual irregularities rather than menopausal symptoms. 7
Dong quai may potentiate the blood-thinning effects of warfarin [Coumadin], an anticoagulant agent, and increase abnormal bleeding: prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) were doubled in a 46-year-old black American woman, previously stabilized on warfarin, who had ingested dong quai for four weeks; laboratory values normalized within one month of discontinuing the herb. 12 In rabbits, dong quai extract affected neither baseline PT nor warfarin pharmacokinetics. 13 Given case reports, however, caution would dictate that patients avoid combining dong quai with warfarin.
Information on the relationship between substances and disease is provided for general information, in order to convey a balanced review of the scientific literature. In many cases the relationship between a substance and a disease is tentative and additional research is needed to confirm such a relationship
The dietary supplement information contained on this site has been compiled from published sources thought to be reliable, but it cannot be guaranteed. Efforts have been made to assure this information is accurate and current. However, some of this information may be purported or outdated due to ongoing research or discoveries. The authors, editors and publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences from applications of the information in this site and make no warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the contents herein.
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