Updating approaches to the standardization of Angelica archangelica L. rhizomes and roots

The aim. To update approaches to the standardization of Angelica archangelica rhizomes and roots, taking into account modern requirements, during a comprehensive study.

Materials and Methods. Morphological and anatomical features of Angelica archangelica rhizomes and roots were studied using light microscopy. Luminescence of tissues and a working standard sample of the coumarins eleutheroside B1 (7-O-glucoside of isofraxidine) were studied by luminescent microscopy, and vascular structures were studied by polarization microscopy. The profile of volatile compounds of lipophilic fractions of water-alcohol extract and essential oil was determined by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS). The total coumarins content was determined by UV spectrophotometry.

Results. Rhizomes and roots of Angelica archangelica of Altai origin were studied for the first time. The most significant results were obtained at the excitation wavelengths in the range of 330 to 400 nm — light blue luminescence of phloem cells and secretion of schizogenous cavities was observed, due to substances of a coumarin nature. The expediency of using a histochemical reaction with Sudan III solution, which reveals schizogenous cavities, secretion droplets, and cell walls of vascular elements, has been substantiated. For the diagnosis of specific conducting elements in Angelica raw material (powder), the use of polarization microscopy is recommended. Using GC-MS for lipophilic fractions of water-alcohol extract and essential oil, a chromatographic profile was established, including substances of both terpene and coumarin nature: prenylated coumarin osthol (up to 49.72 %) and epilobulol (25.61 %). The total coumarin content in the studied raw material was 1.50 ± 0.08 % calculated as coumarin.

Conclusion. A comprehensive approach to the analysis of Angelica archangelica rhizomes and roots, involving the use of both widely used (macroscopic, microscopic, spectrophotometric) and limited-use (luminescent, polarization microscopy, and GC-MS) methods, forms the basis for the development of a draft new pharmacopoeial article “Angelica archangelica Rhizomes and Roots.”

1.

2. Marchishin SM, Poteshny IM. Morphologoanatomical analysis of the leaves of the Angelica sylvestris L. and Angelica archangelica L. Pharmaceutical Journal. 2014;(5):86–92.

3. Liao C. New insights into the phylogeny of Angelica and its allies (Apiaceae) with emphasis on East Asian species, inferred from nrDNA, cpDNA, and morphological evidence. Systematic Botany. 2013;38(1):266–281. DOI: 10.1600/036364413X662060

4. Forycka A, Morozowska M. Micromorphology and anatomy of fruits of Angelica archangelica L. (Apiaceae) and their intraspecific differentiation. Herba Polonica. 2020;66(4):1–13. DOI:10.2478/hepo-2020-0018

5. Aktürk C, Özerkan M, Yilmaz A, Kaynak G, Yilmaz Ö. A new distribution area of Angelica archangelica L. (Apiaceae) around Uludağ (Bursa) and its micromorphological, anatomical, palynological properties. Journal of Biological and Environmental Sciences. 2022;16(47):22–32.

6. Grigoryan ER, Orlovskaya TV. Morphological and anatomical study of rhizomes and roots of Angelica vulgaris. Development, research and marketing of new pharmaceutical products; Pyatigorsk State Pharmaceutical Academy. Volume Issue 67. Pyatigorsk: Pyatigorsk State Pharmaceutical Academy; 2012. P. 24–28. EDN: WBONAD. Russian

7. Shakirova FA, Kudashkina NV, Bashirova RM, Fayzullina RR. Anatomical characteristics of leaves and roots of Angelica officinalis from the flora of Bashkortostan. Hammermann Readings-2011: scientific and methodological conference, St. Petersburg, February 01-03, 2011. Saint Petersburg State Chemical and Pharmaceutical Academy; 2011. P. 91–92. EDN: VRUZAB. Russian

8. Korpinen RI, Välimaa AL, Liimatainen J, Kunnas S. Essential Oils and Supercritical CO2 Extracts of Arctic Angelica (Angelica archangelica L.), Marsh Labrador Tea (Rhododendron tomentosum) and Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)-Chemical Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities. Molecules. 2021;26(23):7121. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237121

9. Nemeth S, Pașca B, Teodorescu A, Coita I, Teaha D. Coumarins isolated from the dry roots of Angelica archangelica L. and their antibacterial activity. Analele Universităţii din Oradea, Fascicula: Ecotoxicologie, Zootehnie şi Tehnologii de Industrie Alimntară. – 2015. – Vol. XIV. – P. 355–362.

10. Aćimović MG, Pavlović SĐ, Varga AO, Filipović VM, Cvetković MT, Stanković JM, Čabarkapa IS. Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Angelica archangelica Root Essential Oil. Nat Prod Commun. 2017;12(2):205–206.

11. Aćimović M, Rat M, Pezo L, Lončar B, Pezo M, Miljković A, Lazarević J. Biological and chemical diversity of Angelica archangelica L. – case study of essential oil and its diological activity. Agronomy. 2022;12:1570. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy12071570

12. Alloush M, Mallion C, Sarker SD, Rahman MM. Coumarins from the roots of Angelica archangelica and antibacterial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Dhaka University Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2022;20(3):275–281. DOI: 10.3329/dujps.v20i3.59793

13. Fraternale D, Teodori L, Rudov A, Prattichizzo F, Olivieri F, Guidarelli A, Albertini MC. The In Vitro Activity of Angelica archangelica L. Essential Oil on Inflammation. J Med Food. 2018;21(12):1238–1243. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2018.0017

14. Forycka A, Buchwald W. Variability of composition of essential oil and coumarin compounds of Angelica archangelica L. Herba Polonica. 2019;65(4):62–75. DOI:10.2478/hepo-2019-0027

15. Nivinskienė O, Butkienė R, Mockutė D. The Chemical composition of the essential oil of Angelica archangelica L. roots growing wild in Lithuania. Journal of Essential Oil Research. 2005;17(4):373–377. DOI: 10.1080/10412905.2005.9698934

16. Shchipitsyna OS. Comparative analysis of essential oil from the roots of the Siberian and European subspecies Angelica archangelica. Advances in current natural sciences. 2011;(5):126–127. EDN: NQXMVT. Russian

17. Lunz K, Stappen I. Back to the Roots-An Overview of the Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Selected Root-Essential Oils. Molecules. 2021;26(11):3155. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113155

18. Kudashkina NV, Bashirova RM, Shakirova FA, Galkin EG, Mustafin AG. Biochemical rationale for the use of Angelica archangelica L. in the monastery. Traditional medicine. 2015;(2(41)):41–43. EDN: UIWYDR

19. Härmälä P, Vuorela H, Hiltunen R, Nyiredy S, Sticher O, Törnquist K, Kaltia S. Strategy for the isolation and identification of coumarins with calcium antagonistic properties from the roots of Angelica archangelica. Phytochem Anal. 1992;3:42–48. DOI: 10.1002/pca.2800030108

20. Bashirova RM, Shakirova FA, Kudashkina NV. Coumarins of the roots and leaves of Angelica archangelica L. of the Ural region. Bulletin of the Bashkir University. 2013;18(4):1078–1080. Russian

21. Oude Nijhuis RAB, Kuipers T, Oors JM, Herregods TVK, Kessing BF, Schuitenmaker JM, Smout AJPM, Bredenoord AJ. The Effect of STW5 (Iberogast) on Reflux Symptoms in Patients With Concurrent Dyspeptic Symptoms: A Double-blind Randomized Placebo-controlled Crossover Trial. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2024;30(1):54–63. doi: 10.5056/jnm23014

22. Sigurdsson S, Ogmundsdottir HM, Gudbjarnason S. Antiproliferative effect of Angelica archangelica fruits. Z Naturforsch C J Biosci. 200;59(7-8):523–527. DOI: 10.1515/znc-2004-7-813

23. Nabi MHB, Ahmed M, Mia S, Islam S, Zzaman W. Essential oils: Advances in extraction techniques, chemical composition, and bioactivities. Heliyon. Food Chemistry Advances. 2025:101048. DOI: 10.1016/j.focha.2025.101048

24. Bhadange YA, Carpenter J, Saharan VK. A comprehensive review on advanced extraction techniques for retrieving bioactive components from natural sources. ACS Omega. 2024;9(29):31274–31297. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02718

25. Kurkin VA, Sazonova OV, Kurkina AV, Ryazanova TK, Khusainova AI. composition of essential oil of Tanacetum vulgare L. from Samara Region. Science and Innovations in Medicine. 2016;(4(4)):58–62. EDN: YKNIEP

26. Kurkin VA, Vaskova AI, Ryazanova TK Comparative Study of the Constituent Composition of Essential Oil from Herb Species of the Genus Achillea L. Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal. 2025;59(1):56–62. DOI: 10.1007/s11094-025-03364-6. EDN: MKSNJT

27. Artemyeva VV, Dandash GM, Zilfikarov IN, Shishkalov DI, Ryzhov VM, Ryazanova TK, Bochkareva II, Guseynova ZA, Arutyunov AK. Modern Aspects of Pharmacognostic Analysis of Wild Carrot Fruits (Daucus carota L.). Pharmacy & Pharmacology. 2025;13(5):367–384. DOI: 10.19163/2307-9266-2025-13-5-367-384. EDN: ZXLJSH

28. Kurkin VA, Ryazanova TK. Current aspects of quality control and standardization of Eleutherococcus senticosus medicines. Drug development & registration. 2022;11(3):152–161. DOI: 10.33380/2305-2066-2022-11-3-152-161. EDN: MRGQXB

29. Kurkin VA, Kurkina AV, Kosenko AA. The development of methods for determination the total flavonoids in buds of Populus alba L. Chemistry of plant raw material. 2024;(2):168–175. DOI: 10.14258/jcprm.20240212904. EDN: AXGYYW

30. Kompantseva EV, Ayrapetova AYu, Saushkina AS. Spectrophotometric Determination of Hydroxycinnamic Acids in Herbal Drugs. Part 1. Direct Spectrophotometry (Review). Bulletin of the Scientific Centre for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products. Regulatory Research and Medicine Evaluation. 2024;14(2):181–195. DOI: 10.30895/1991-2919-2024-14-2-181-195. EDN: FAKJMJ

31. Gorislav AA, Novoselova LV. Anatomical structure of the rhizome of Angelica sylvestris L. (Umbelliferae). Innovations in medicine and pharmacy - 2018: Proceedings of the remote scientific and practical conference of students and young scientists, Minsk, November 04, 2018; Belarusian State Medical University. Minsk: Belarusian State Medical University; 2018. P. 849–852. EDN: YYULDF. Russian

32. Abramchuk AV, Karpukhin MYu. Morpho-biological features Angelica archangelica L. Bulletin of Biotechnology. 2020;(1(22):5. EDN: BOTEYC

33. Bashirova RM, Shakirova FA, Kudashkina NV, Galkin EG, Mustaphin AG. Essential oils roots of garden Angelica A. Archangelica Ural Region. Proceedings of the RAS Ufa Scientific Centre. 2014;(1):15–21. EDN: RXOUKZ

34. Slobodianiuk L. Analysis of the essential oils in leaves and rhizomes with roots of Angelica archangelica growing in Ukraine. ScienceRise: Pharmaceutical Science. 2024;(3(49)):63–69.

35. Chauhan RS, Nautiyal MC, Cecotti R, Mella M, Tava A. Variation in the essential oil composition of Angelica archangelica from three different altitudes in Western Himalaya, India. Industrial Crops and Products. 2016;94:401–404. DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.08.044

36. Jovan L, Aćimović M, Durović-Pejčev R, Lončar B, Vukić V, Pezo L, Roljević-Nikolić S, Vrbničanin S, Božić D. Linking weed control techniques to anti-inflammatory potential: Comparative analysis of Angelica archangelica L. root essential oil profiles. Industrial Crops and Products. 2024;216:118656. DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.118656

37. Holm Y, Solberg S, Hiltunen R. Variation in Angelica archangelica root essential oils. Planta Medica. 2009;75(09):52–56. DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234418

38. Lunz K, Stappen I. Back to the Roots-An Overview of the Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Selected Root-Essential Oils. Molecules. 2021;26(11):3155. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113155

39. Sigurdsson S, Jonsdottir S, Gudbjarnason S. Geographical variation of the furanocoumarin composition of the fruits of Icelandic Angelica archangelica. Z Naturforsch C J Biosci. 2012;67(1-2):1–7. DOI: 10.1515/znc-2012-1-201

40.