Dong Quai

Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) is a stout biennial or perennial herb native to China, which has been used traditionally for several thousand years. Dong Quai extract is prepared from the clean and dried roots, from which ligustilides and ferulic acid are extracted. Dong Quai has been traditionally used for women’s hormonal issues.1

Health Benefits

Dong Quai may aid in reducing incidences and severity of hot flashes during menopause.2 Dong Quai may improve conditions in ulcers and inflammation in the digestive tract (ulcerative colitis).3 Dong Quai supplementation may help improve blockages of blood vessels in the brain (acute cerebral infarction).4 It has been suggested in preclinical studies that Dong Quai may decrease inflammation and tumors growth in colorectal cancer.5

References

  1. Dietz BM, Liu D, Hagos GK, Yao P, Schinkovitz A, Pro SM, Deng S, Farnsworth NR, Pauli GF, van Breemen RB, Bolton JL. Angelica sinensis and its alkylphthalides induce the detoxification enzyme NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 by alkylating Keap1. Chem Res Toxicol. 2008 Oct;21(10):1939-48. doi:10.1021/tx8001274. Epub 2008 Sep 23. PubMed PMID: 18808158; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC2615640
  2. Kupfersztain C, Rotem C, Fagot R, Kaplan B. The immediate effect of natural plant extract, Angelica sinensis and Matricaria chamomilla (Climex) for the treatment of hot flushes during menopause. A preliminary report. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2003;30(4):203-6. PubMed PMID: 14664413.
  3. Dong WG, Liu SP, Zhu HH, Luo HS, Yu JP. Abnormal function of platelets and role of angelica sinensis in patients with ulcerative colitis. World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Feb 15;10(4):606-9. PubMed PMID: 14966927.
  4. Liu YM, Zhang JJ, Jiang J. [Observation on clinical effect of Angelica injection in treating acute cerebral infarction]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2004 Mar;24(3):205-8. Chinese. PubMed PMID: 15074085.
  5. An J, Li XN, Zhao BC, Wang Q, Lan Y, Wu Q. [Chemo-preventive effect of Angelica sinensis’ supercritical extracts on AOM/DSS-induced mouse colorectal carcinoma associated with inflammation]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2014 Apr;39(7):1265-9. Chinese. PubMed PMID: 25011266.