Introduction of Du Huo: Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root
✵The article documents Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources as defined in authoritative herbal classics, and related pharmacological and clinical information. The officially recognized botanical source is (1) Angelica pubescens Maxim. f. biserrata Shan et Yuan. Three additional plant species are also accepted for use: (2) Angelica pubescens Maxim., (3) Angelica porphyrocaulis Nakai et Kitag., and (4) Heracleum hemsleyanum Diels. The article provides detailed descriptions of the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological habitats of these four species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Dú Huó
English Name: Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root
Latin Name:Radix Angelicae Pubescentis Properties and Flavor: Slightly warm; pungent, bitter
Brief Introduction:Radix Angelicae Pubescentis is the dried root of Angelica pubescens Maxim. f. biserrata Shan et Yuan. It dispels wind-damp, alleviates arthralgia, and releases the exterior in cases of wind-cold-damp bi syndrome—especially lower-body arthralgia—and wind-cold-damp invasion. It is commonly known as Radix Angelicae Pubescentis, Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root, or Dú Huó.
Botanical Source: Official herbal classics defined the herb Radix Angelicae Pubescentis (Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root) as the dried root of (1) Angelica pubescens Maxim. f. biserrata Shan et Yuan. Other common famous herbal classics defined the herb Radix Angelicae Pubescentis (Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root) as the dried root of (1) Angelica pubescens Maxim. f. biserrata Shan et Yuan., (2) Angelica pubescens Maxim., (3) Angelica porphyrocaulis Nakaiet Kitag., (4) Heracleum hemsleyanum Diels. They are plants of the Angelica L. genus, Apiaceae family (Umbelliferae, parsley family), and Apiales order. This herbal classic book defined species and other usable species are introduced:
(1) Angelica pubescens Maxim. f. biserrata Shan et Yuan
Botanical description: This plant is also known as Angelica biserrata (Shan et Yuan) Yuan et Shan or Angelica pubescens auct. non Maxim. It is commonly called Chóng Chǐ Dāng Guī or Chóng Chǐ Máo Dāng Guī. A perennial tall herb. The root is subcylindrical, tan to chocolate brown, up to 15 cm long and 1–2.5 cm in diameter, with a distinctive fragrance. The stem is erect, up to 1–2 m tall and 1.5 cm in diameter, hollow, often purplish, smooth or with shallow longitudinal grooves, and sparsely covered with short coarse hairs in the upper portion. Leaves are biternate-pinnatisect and broadly ovate, 20–30 cm long (up to 40 cm) and 15–25 cm wide. Petioles of cauline leaves measure 30–50 cm; their bases enlarge into long, tubular, half-clasping, thick membranous leaf sheaths that are explanate; the abaxial surface is glabrous or slightly pubescent. Ultimate lobules are membranous, ovoid to oblong-ovate, 5.5–18 cm long and 3–6.5 cm wide; apices are acuminate; bases are cuneate; margins are irregularly sharply serrate or biserrate, with short incurved apical teeth; apical ultimate lobules are often deeply trilobed; bases are usually decurrent along the rachis into aliform extensions; lateral lobules are short-stipitate or sessile; both surfaces are pubescent along veins and margins. The stipule (peraphyllium) of the inflorescence is reduced to a gibbous leaf sheath, glabrous or occasionally sparsely hairy.
Compound umbels are terminal or axillary; peduncles are 5–16 cm long (up to 20 cm), densely covered with short coarse hairs. One involucral bract is present—long-subulate, with marginal setae (trichomes), and caducous. There are 10–25 rays, 1.5–5 cm long, densely covered with short coarse hairs. Each umbel bears 17–28 flowers (up to 36). Involucel bracts number 5–10, broadly lanceolate, shorter than the pedicels, with long-acuminate apices; the abaxial surface and margins are covered with short hairs. Flowers are white; calyx teeth are absent; petals are obovate with concave apices; the stylopodium is a flat disc.
Fruits are elliptic, 6–8 mm long and 3–5 mm wide. Lateral wings are equal in width to the fruit body or slightly narrower. The dorsal ridge is prominent; the groove between ridges contains 1–2 (up to 3) vittae (oil ducts); the commissure contains 2–4 (up to 6) vittae. Flowering occurs from August to September; fruiting occurs from September to October.
Ecological Environment: This species grows on moist hillsides and mountain slopes, in forest understories and sparse shrublands.
Growth Characteristics: The plant Angelica pubescens prefers a cool and humid climate; it is cold-tolerant and suitable for growth in high, cold alpine mountainous areas at altitudes of 1,200–2,000 meters above sea level. It is preferable to choose fields with deep soil layers, black-gray loamy soil, and humus-rich yellow sandy soil for cultivation; fields with shallow soil layers, waterlogged soils, and clay soils should be avoided.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root head and taproot (main root) are thick and short, slightly cylindrical (subcylindrical), 1.5–4 cm long and 1.5–3.5 cm in diameter. Several curved lateral roots are present in the lower part, 12–30 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is coarse and rough, taupe-brown, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles and transverse cracks, and numerous elongated lenticels and radicel marks (fine root scars); the root head bears ring-like ridges (fringes), multiseriate concentric petiole scars, and a central concave stem scar. The herb is firm and hard in texture; the fracture surface is grayish yellow-white, the cambium ring is brown, the cortex contains brown oil spots (vittae or oil ducts), and the xylem (wood portion) is yellowish brown; large pith regions and oil spots are visible in the cross-section of the root head. The herb has a distinctive odor and tastes bitter and pungent, with a slight numbing effect on the tongue.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Effects on platelet aggregation and experimental thrombosis; (2) Effects on the cardiovascular system; (3) Spasmolytic activity; (4) Analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, photosensitizing, and other effects; (5) Antimicrobial effects: osthol and xanthotoxin demonstrated a broad antibacterial spectrum in vitro against 11 strains; umbelliferone showed marked inhibitory activity against Brucella.
Medicinal efficacy: Expels wind and dispels dampness, dispels cold, and alleviates pain and numbness. It is indicated for wind-cold-damp bi syndrome presenting with fixed joint pain, lumbar and knee pain, Shaoyin-type headache and hidden wind headache, clonic pain of hands and feet, chronic tracheitis, headache, and toothache.
Administration of Radix Angelicae Pubescentis (Dú Huó):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Radix Angelicae Pubescentis (Dú Huó)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams; (2) Internally: decoction in water, 1–3 qian (≈3–9 grams); infusion in wine; or prepared as pills or powders. External use: wash with water decoction. (3) Internally:decoction in water, 3–10 grams; infusion in wine; or prepared as pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, wash with water decoction.
(2) Angelica pubescens Maxim.
Botanical Description:Angelica pubescens Maxim., commonly known as Máo Dāng Guī, is a perennial herb growing up to 1–3 m tall. The stem is purplish and glabrous. Basal leaves and lower cauline leaves are biternate or triternate pinnately compound; leaflets (foliolules) are ovoid, 4–14 cm long and 2.5–8 cm wide, with crenate margins, acuminate apices, and rounded or cuneate bases; veins are sparsely pubescent. Upper cauline leaves gradually simplify into expanded leaf sheaths.
Compound umbels bear 10–20 rays; the involucre is absent or consists of 1–2 sheath-like bracts; umbellules contain 16–30 flowers; several involucels are present; flowers are white; calyx teeth are short and triangular; there are 5 petals and 5 stamens; the ovary is inferior.
The cremocarp is oblate; the dorsal ridge is linear and elevated; the lateral ribs are aliform (wing-like); each groove contains 1 vitta (oil duct), and the commissure contains 2 vittae (oil ducts). Flowering occurs from June to August; fruiting occurs from August to September.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in valleys, ditches, grasslands, or shrublands; it is commonly found in understory grass, along valley edges or hillside and mountain slopes, and beside roads, at altitudes of 950–2,400 m above sea level.
(3) Angelica porphyrocaulis Nakaiet Kitag.
Botanical Description:Angelica porphyrocaulis Nakai et Kitag., also known as Purple-stemmed Angelica pubescens or Purple Angelica pubescens, is a perennial herb growing up to 1–2 m tall. The stem is dark purple (moderate purple), longitudinally grooved, with few branches in the upper part and densely covered with short hirsute hairs. Leaves are alternate; those on the lower and middle parts are bipinnatipartite to tripinnatipartite; ultimate lobes are narrowly ovate, narrow-lanceolate, or linear-lanceolate, 2–5 cm long and 6–12 mm wide; both surfaces bear fine pilose veins; margins have incised, sharp teeth; the petiole base is enlarged into a sheath. Upper leaves simplify into atropurpureus (purple-black) cystic leaf sheaths, externally densely tomentose.
Compound umbel is terminal; pedicel is pilose; no involucre; 20–30 rays, densely pilose; involucral bracts are subulate, with marginal setae (trichomes); flowers are purple, rarely white.
Cremocarps are broadly elliptical, 0.6–1 cm long and 5–7 mm wide; mericarps are flattened, with broad wings; dorsal ribs are thin and linear.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows predominantly on hillsides and mountain slopes, in grassy habitats.
(4) Heracleum hemsleyanum Diels.
Botanical Description:Heracleum hemsleyanum Diels, commonly known as Niú Wěi Dú Huó, is a perennial herb growing up to 0.5–1.5 m tall. Roots are long-conical and sometimes bear several slender lateral roots. The stem is simple, longitudinally grooved, and sparsely pubescent. Petioles of basal leaves and lower cauline leaves are 8–17 cm long; their bases expand into broad, membranous leaf sheaths. Leaves are pinnately divided or bipinnatifid, with 3–5 lobes; lobes are broadly ovate or ovoid (egg-shaped), 5–13 cm long and 4–20 cm wide, tri-lobed, with irregularly serrate margins; both surfaces are sparsely pubescent. Upper stem leaves are smaller, tri-lobed to deeply three-parted.
Compound umbel is apical, densely pilose; 16–18 rays, 3.5–9 cm long; general involucre are reduced or absent, bracts are lanceolate, sometimes pinnatilobate at the margin; 5–8 bracteoles, linear-lanceolate and pilose; umbellules contain ~20 white flowers; calyx teeth are inconspicuous; 5 petals, apices concave and unequal in size; 5 stamens; ovary is inferior and densely puberulent; stylopodium is conical.
Cremocarps are oblate, 6–7 mm long and 5 mm wide; dorsal ribs are inconspicuous; 4 vittae (oil ducts) in the grooves, 2 vittae in the commissure; lateral ribs developed into wings. Flowering occurs from May to July; fruiting occurs from August to September.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hillsides and mountain slopes, in shrublands and forests.
Article Link:
URL QR code:
References:
1.Introduction of Du Huo: Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root.
✵The article documents Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources as defined in authoritative herbal classics, and related pharmacological and clinical information. The officially recognized botanical source is (1) Angelica pubescens Maxim. f. biserrata Shan et Yuan. Three additional plant species are also accepted for use: (2) Angelica pubescens Maxim., (3) Angelica porphyrocaulis Nakai et Kitag., and (4) Heracleum hemsleyanum Diels. The article provides detailed descriptions of the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological habitats of these four species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb Doubleteeth Pubescent Angelica Root, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Dú Huó
Botanical description: This plant is also known as Angelica biserrata (Shan et Yuan) Yuan et Shan or Angelica pubescens auct. non Maxim. It is commonly called Chóng Chǐ Dāng Guī or Chóng Chǐ Máo Dāng Guī. A perennial tall herb. The root is subcylindrical, tan to chocolate brown, up to 15 cm long and 1–2.5 cm in diameter, with a distinctive fragrance. The stem is erect, up to 1–2 m tall and 1.5 cm in diameter, hollow, often purplish, smooth or with shallow longitudinal grooves, and sparsely covered with short coarse hairs in the upper portion. Leaves are biternate-pinnatisect and broadly ovate, 20–30 cm long (up to 40 cm) and 15–25 cm wide. Petioles of cauline leaves measure 30–50 cm; their bases enlarge into long, tubular, half-clasping, thick membranous leaf sheaths that are explanate; the abaxial surface is glabrous or slightly pubescent. Ultimate lobules are membranous, ovoid to oblong-ovate, 5.5–18 cm long and 3–6.5 cm wide; apices are acuminate; bases are cuneate; margins are irregularly sharply serrate or biserrate, with short incurved apical teeth; apical ultimate lobules are often deeply trilobed; bases are usually decurrent along the rachis into aliform extensions; lateral lobules are short-stipitate or sessile; both surfaces are pubescent along veins and margins. The stipule (peraphyllium) of the inflorescence is reduced to a gibbous leaf sheath, glabrous or occasionally sparsely hairy.
Ecological Environment: This species grows on moist hillsides and mountain slopes, in forest understories and sparse shrublands.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root head and taproot (main root) are thick and short, slightly cylindrical (subcylindrical), 1.5–4 cm long and 1.5–3.5 cm in diameter. Several curved lateral roots are present in the lower part, 12–30 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is coarse and rough, taupe-brown, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles and transverse cracks, and numerous elongated lenticels and radicel marks (fine root scars); the root head bears ring-like ridges (fringes), multiseriate concentric petiole scars, and a central concave stem scar. The herb is firm and hard in texture; the fracture surface is grayish yellow-white, the cambium ring is brown, the cortex contains brown oil spots (vittae or oil ducts), and the xylem (wood portion) is yellowish brown; large pith regions and oil spots are visible in the cross-section of the root head. The herb has a distinctive odor and tastes bitter and pungent, with a slight numbing effect on the tongue.
Botanical Description: Angelica pubescens Maxim., commonly known as Máo Dāng Guī, is a perennial herb growing up to 1–3 m tall. The stem is purplish and glabrous. Basal leaves and lower cauline leaves are biternate or triternate pinnately compound; leaflets (foliolules) are ovoid, 4–14 cm long and 2.5–8 cm wide, with crenate margins, acuminate apices, and rounded or cuneate bases; veins are sparsely pubescent. Upper cauline leaves gradually simplify into expanded leaf sheaths.
Compound umbels bear 10–20 rays; the involucre is absent or consists of 1–2 sheath-like bracts; umbellules contain 16–30 flowers; several involucels are present; flowers are white; calyx teeth are short and triangular; there are 5 petals and 5 stamens; the ovary is inferior.
Botanical Description: Angelica porphyrocaulis Nakai et Kitag., also known as Purple-stemmed Angelica pubescens or Purple Angelica pubescens, is a perennial herb growing up to 1–2 m tall. The stem is dark purple (moderate purple), longitudinally grooved, with few branches in the upper part and densely covered with short hirsute hairs. Leaves are alternate; those on the lower and middle parts are bipinnatipartite to tripinnatipartite; ultimate lobes are narrowly ovate, narrow-lanceolate, or linear-lanceolate, 2–5 cm long and 6–12 mm wide; both surfaces bear fine pilose veins; margins have incised, sharp teeth; the petiole base is enlarged into a sheath. Upper leaves simplify into atropurpureus (purple-black) cystic leaf sheaths, externally densely tomentose.
Botanical Description: Heracleum hemsleyanum Diels, commonly known as Niú Wěi Dú Huó, is a perennial herb growing up to 0.5–1.5 m tall. Roots are long-conical and sometimes bear several slender lateral roots. The stem is simple, longitudinally grooved, and sparsely pubescent. Petioles of basal leaves and lower cauline leaves are 8–17 cm long; their bases expand into broad, membranous leaf sheaths. Leaves are pinnately divided or bipinnatifid, with 3–5 lobes; lobes are broadly ovate or ovoid (egg-shaped), 5–13 cm long and 4–20 cm wide, tri-lobed, with irregularly serrate margins; both surfaces are sparsely pubescent. Upper stem leaves are smaller, tri-lobed to deeply three-parted.
Compound umbel is apical, densely pilose; 16–18 rays, 3.5–9 cm long; general involucre are reduced or absent, bracts are lanceolate, sometimes pinnatilobate at the margin; 5–8 bracteoles, linear-lanceolate and pilose; umbellules contain ~20 white flowers; calyx teeth are inconspicuous; 5 petals, apices concave and unequal in size; 5 stamens; ovary is inferior and densely puberulent; stylopodium is conical.
URL QR code:
