Angelica

The Angelica (Angelica archangelica), also called medicinal angelica or true angelica, is a stately umbellifer plant (Apiaceae) that originally comes from the north of Europe and Asia. It prefers to grow in moist locations such as riverbanks, bogs, and meadows. Since the Middle Ages, it has played an important role in European healing, but also in monastic medicine, where it was revered as "Angelica" – its name derives from the notion that it was brought to humans by an angel for healing. In addition to its medicinal significance, it is also culturally rooted: In Scandinavia, Angelica was used as a vegetable, spice, and remedy, while its aromatic seeds and roots remain an ingredient of liqueurs such as Chartreuse or Bénédictine to this day.

What benefits does Angelica offer for health?

Angelica is a plant that is credited with many benefits in traditional medicine. From a scientific perspective, one can already speak of medicinal potential, but more studies are necessary to be able to make a well-founded statement about the plant's exact effects. Findings to date are not readily transferable and should therefore be viewed critically. Here is a selection of the results so far:

  • Anti-inflammatory: Studies point to a potentially anti-inflammatory effect, which could explain its use for various conditions (1).
  • Antimicrobial effect: Studies have linked extracts of the plant to an antimicrobial effect (2,3)
  • Hepatoprotective effect: One study showed a hepatoprotective effect against ethanol-induced liver damage in mice (4).
  • Possible cancer-fighting properties: Results of scientific studies suggest an antitumor potential of extracts of the Angelica root, both in vitro and in vivo (5).
  • Anti-ulcerogenic effect: Angelica archangelica showed an anti-ulcerogenic effect against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rats, as well as an antisecretory and cytoprotective effect.

How does Angelica work in the body?

The pharmacological effect of Angelica is based on the interplay of its constituents. A large part of the effect is presumably attributable to essential oils and coumarins, but here too, more research is necessary to be able to make conclusive statements.

Are there risks or side effects?

  • Photosensitization: Coumarins can make the skin more sensitive to light, which is why direct sunlight should be avoided after external application.
  • Not recommended for pregnant women: Because of possible labor-inducing effects, Angelica should not be used during pregnancy.
  • Interactions: Interactions with medications are theoretically possible.
  • Observe the dosage: When used properly in teas, tinctures, or ready-made preparations, however, Angelica is considered well tolerated.
  • Insufficiently researched: At present, the data so far is not conclusive enough to be able to make definitive statements. Use should therefore always take place under medical supervision

Conclusion

Angelica (Angelica archangelica) is a medicinal plant rich in tradition with diverse possible uses. Its high standing in monastic and folk medicine shows how strongly it is rooted in European culture. Modern studies likewise point to medicinal potential, even though further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms in detail.

Sources

  1. Teodori, L., Rudov, A., Prattichizzo, F., Olivieri, F., Guidarelli, A., & Albertini, M. (2018). The in vitro activity of Angelica archangelica L. essential oil on inflammation. Journal of Medicinal Food, 21(11), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2018.0017
  2. Aćimović, M., Rat, M., Pezo, L., Lončar, B., Pezo, M., Miljković, A., & Lazarević, J. (2022). Biological and Chemical Diversity of Angelica archangelica L.—Case Study of Essential Oil and Its Biological Activity. Agronomy, 12(7), 1570. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12071570
  3. Fraternale, D., Flamini, G., & Ricci, D. (2014). Essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of Angelica archangelica L. (Apiaceae) roots. Journal of medicinal food, 17(9), 1043–1047. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2013.0012
  4. Yeh, M.-L., Liu, C.-F., Huang, C.-L., & Huang, T.-C. (2003). Hepatoprotective effect of Angelica archangelica in chronically ethanol-treated mice. Pharmacology, 68(2), 70–73. https://doi.org/10.1159/000069530
  5. Oliveira, C. R., Spindola, D. G., Garcia, D. M., Erustes, A., Bechara, A., Palmeira-Dos-Santos, C., Smaili, S. S., Pereira, G. J. S., Hinsberger, A., Viriato, E. P., Cristina Marcucci, M., Sawaya, A. C. H. F., Tomaz, S. L., Rodrigues, E. G., & Bincoletto, C. (2019). Medicinal properties of Angelica archangelica root extract: Cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells and its protective effects against in vivo tumor development. Journal of integrative medicine, 17(2), 132–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joim.2019.02.001
  6. Sigurdsson, S., Ögmundsdottir, H. M., Hallgrimsson, J., & Gudbjarnason, S. (2005). Antitumour activity of Angelica archangelica leaf extract. In Vivo, 19(1), 191–194.
  7. Khayyal MT, el-Ghazaly MA, Kenawy SA, Seif-el-Nasr M, Mahran LG, Kafafi YA, et al Antiulcerogenic effect of some gastrointestinally acting plant extracts and their combination Arzneimittelforschung. 2001;51:545–53
  8. Bhat, Z. A.; Kumar, Dinesh; Shah, M. Y.. Angelica archangelica Linn. is an angel on earth for the treatment of diseases. International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology, Neurological Diseases 1(1):p 36-50, Jan–Jun 2011. | DOI: 10.4103/2231-0738.77531