phytotherapy

Angelica - Therapeutic indications

By Dr. Rita Fabbri

The therapeutic activity of the Angelica species is linked to its high content of coumarins.

Unlike other medicinal plants, scientific research was based on plant extracts rather than on individual constituents, and in numerous studies, Asian Angelica was used. Below are the most important pharmacological activities of Angelica.

Phytoestrogenic activity

The plant substances with phytoestrogenic action (phytoestrogens) are present in numerous officinal plants and historically used in gynecological pathologies currently treated with synthetic estrogens. Chinese and Japanese Angelica contain phytoestrogens and can be used in case of high or low levels of estrogen. Phytoestrogens have an amphoteric effect because they compete with estrogen on the cellular receptor: when estrogen levels are low, phytoestrogens play an estrogenic action; when estrogen levels are high, phytoestrogens occupying the same receptor sites as estrogens, reduce overall estrogenic activity. The amphoteric effect of phytoestrogens of Angelica may justify the clinical use of this plant in amenorrhea and in menopause.

Angelica can be considered a uterine tonic based on these and other studies:

  • It has been shown that Japanese Angelica exerts a tonic effect on the uterus, initially leading to an increase in uterine contractions and subsequently a relaxation of the musculature (13-14). Furthermore, the administration of Japanese Angelica to mice induced an increase in the use of glucose by the liver and uterus and an increase in uterine weight (14-15).

Cardiovascular activity

Traditionally, Angelica has never been used in the cardiovascular field, however this plant has a significant hypotensive effect (5.13, 15). It has been shown that the dihydropyranocumarins and dihydrofuranocumarins of Umbrelliferous plants, including the Angelica, have a marked vasodilatory action, probably mediated by interaction with the calcium channels; therefore we can say that Angelica has a slightly similar action to calcium channel blockers with respect to coronary vessels (16).

Again in the cardiovascular field, this plant has anti-arrhythmic and antiplatelet activity.

Spasmolytic activity

It has been shown that the essential oil of Angelica relaxes the smooth muscles of the intestine and uterus, while the aqueous extract initially causes a contraction of the smooth muscles and then a prolonged relaxation (13, 14, 15). The traditional use of Angelica is therefore confirmed in the treatment of intestinal spasms and uterine cramps; its activity on other smooth muscles also justifies the hypotensive effect (vascular smooth muscle) and bronchodilator activity (bronchial smooth muscle) traditionally exploited in the treatment of asthma.

Analgesic activity

Chinese and Japanese Angelica have shown mild sedative analgesic effects in several animal studies (13, 15, 17, 18). The analgesic action was almost twice as high as that of aspirin (17). This activity, associated with the muscle relaxant activity, explains the traditional use of Angelica as a sedative for headaches and menstrual pain.

Antiallergic and immunomodulatory activity

For a long time Angelica was used to prevent and treat allergic symptoms of sensitive or intolerant individuals (15, 19). The effect is probably due to a selective inhibition of the production of allergic-type antibodies (IgE).

It has been shown that the coumarins of the Angelic and the polysaccharides of the aqueous extract have immunomodulatory activity: they increase the activity of the leukocytes, stimulate the production of interferon and enhance the non-specific defense mechanisms (20-25).

These effects on the immune system would seem to confirm the rather recent use of Angelica as a support agent in cancer therapy.

Antibacterial activity

Chinese Angelica extracts are active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria; Japanese Angelica extracts were inactive (13). This different antimicrobial activity may be due to the different concentrations of essential oil in the extracts used. The essential oil of Angelica archangelica showed a significant antifungal activity (in particular against Candida albicans ) but not antibacterial (5, 6).

Concerning the main clinical applications of Angelica, synthesizing we can say that currently the Angelica archangelica and the Angelica atropurpurea are more suitable in the treatment of respiratory pathologies, for their expectorant, decongestant and bronchodilator activity, and in gastrointestinal disorders such as aerophagia, meteorism, abdominal tension, intestinal spasms and irritable bowel syndrome.

Angelica sinensis and Angelica acutifolia are more useful in the treatment of menstrual disorders, in menopause (especially for hot flashes), in uterine cramps, in migraine of nervous origin and for immunomodulatory activity.

However, further research on humans would be necessary.

Angelica can be taken as an infusion: 2-4 g of roots in 150 ml of boiling water, filter after 10 minutes and drink a warm infusion cup half an hour before meals; otherwise as a dye, fluid or dry extract (26-27).

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Contraindications, special warnings and appropriate precautions for use, undesirable effects

Angelica preparations are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. They should also be avoided in patients on anticoagulant therapy.

There may be rare cases of hypersensitivity involving excessive bleeding, occasional fever and a slight laxative effect (28).

The Angelica contains particularly phototoxic substances (furanocumarine), which can cause photodermatitis, inflammation and blisters after sun exposure, so its use is not recommended in case of excessive exposure to sunlight or in any case during cosmetic treatments based on ultraviolet rays. Furanocumarins are effective in the treatment of some forms of psoriasis and in vitiligo (29).

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