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Botanical illustration of Angelica
MedicinalSourced entry

Angelica

Angelica archangelica

Garden angelica, an aromatic plant used to flavour food and known in folk medicine as the "angel plant". Research is in the lab and in animals.

What is Angelica?

Plant family
Apiaceae, the carrot and parsley family
Parts used
The root, seeds and stems, used for flavouring and in traditional medicine
Genus
Angelica
Species
archangelica

Also called

Garden Angelica, Angelica archangelica

Traditionally used for

  • Flavouring
  • Traditional remedy

Traditionally described as

    Safety

    Toxicity testing

    • Angelica root contains furocoumarins, natural compounds that can make skin react to sunlight. Europe's medicines agency says many of them can damage DNA and cause cancer when combined with UV light, and that their risk in herbal products is uncertain because data are lacking. Some furocoumarins are also eaten in everyday foods.[1]

      Technical detail: photogenotoxic and photocarcinogenic; risk assessed against 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) as a worst case.

    What does the research say?

    Traditional use

    These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.

    • Garden angelica is an aromatic plant used to flavour food. In traditional medicine it's called the "angel plant" because of the healing powers once credited to it.[2]

    Laboratory & animal research

    Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.

    • In lab and animal studies, angelica extracts and their compounds (mainly coumarins and essential oils) have shown calming and anti-seizure effects, effects on memory, antiviral and stomach-protecting activity, and reduced inflammation. These haven't been confirmed in people.[2]

    In short

    Contains furocoumarins, which can make skin react to sunlight.

    Sources

    1. [1] Reflection paper on the risks associated with furocoumarins contained in preparations of Angelica archangelica L. (EMEA/HMPC/317913/2006) — European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)Government health agency
    2. [2] Understanding the phytochemistry and molecular insights to the pharmacology of Angelica archangelica L. (garden angelica) and its bioactive components · DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7206Peer-reviewed study

    This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.