Bai Zhi

ANGELICAE DAHURICAE RADIX (白芷, Baizhi) Dahurian Angelica Root Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth. et Hook. f. or Angelica dahurica var. formosana (Boiss.) Shan et Yuan (Fam. Umbelliferae). The drug is collected in summer or autumn when the leaves turn yellow, removed from the rootlets and soil, and dried in the sun or at a low temperature. Description Long-conical, 10–25 cm long and 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. Externally greyish-brown or yellowish-brown. Root head obtusely quadrangular or subrounded, with longitudinal wrinkles, rootlet scars, and lenticel-like transverse protuberances, some arranged in four longitudinal rows. Apex bearing dented stem scars. Texture compact. Fracture white or greyish-white and starchy. Cambium ring brown, subsquare or subrounded. Numerous brown oil dots scattered throughout the cortex. Odour aromatic. Taste pungent and slightly bitter. Identification (1) Powder Yellowish-white. Starch granules abundant. Simple granules spheroidal, polygonal, elliptical, or galeiform, 3–25 μm in diameter. Hilum punctate, cleft, cruciform, Y-shaped, stellate, or V-shaped. Compound starch granules usually composed of 2–12 components. Reticulate and spiral vessels 10–85 μm in diameter. Cork cells polygonal or subrectangular, pale yellowish-brown. Vittae mostly broken, containing pale yellowish-brown secretions. (2) To 0.5 g of the powder add 10 mL of ether. Soak for 1 hour, shaking frequently. Filter and evaporate the filtrate to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 1 mL of ethyl acetate as the test solution. Prepare a solution of 0.5 g of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix Reference Drug in the same manner as the reference drug solution. Dissolve Imperatorin CRS and Isoimperatorin CRS in ethyl acetate to prepare a mixed solution containing 1 mg of each per mL as the reference solution. Carry out the method for Thin-Layer Chromatography (0502), using silica gel G as the coating substance and a mixture of petroleum ether (30–60°C) and ether (3:2) as the mobile phase. Apply separately 4 μL of each of the three solutions to the plate. Develop below 25°C. Remove the plate and dry in air. Examine under ultraviolet light at 365 nm. The fluorescent spots in the chromatogram obtained with the test solution correspond in position and colour to those obtained with the reference drug solution and the reference solution. Water Not more than 14.0% (0832, Method 4). Total Ash Not more than 6.0% (2302). Heavy Metals and Harmful Elements Carry out the methods for determination of lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and copper (2321, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry or Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry). Limits: Lead: ≤ 5 mg/kg Cadmium: ≤ 1 mg/kg Arsenic: ≤ 2 mg/kg Mercury: ≤ 0.2 mg/kg Copper: ≤ 20 mg/kg Extractives Carry out the method for determination of ethanol-soluble extractives (2201, Hot Extraction Method) using dilute ethanol as the solvent. Not less than 15.0%. Assay Carry out the method for High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (0512). Chromatographic system and system suitability Use octadecylsilane-bonded silica gel as the stationary phase. Mobile phase: Methanol : Water = 55 : 45 Detection wavelength: 300 nm The number of theoretical plates shall be not less than 3000, calculated with reference to the imperatorin peak. Reference solution Accurately weigh an appropriate quantity of Imperatorin CRS. Dissolve in methanol to prepare a solution containing 10 μg/mL. Test solution Accurately weigh 0.4 g of the powder (through No. 3 sieve) into a 50 mL volumetric flask. Add 45 mL of methanol. Ultrasonicate (300 W, 50 kHz) for 1 hour. Cool and dilute to volume with methanol. Mix well and filter. Use the subsequent filtrate as the test solution. Procedure Inject accurately 20 μL of the reference solution and the test solution into the chromatograph. Determine and calculate the content. The drug contains not less than 0.080% of imperatorin (C₁₆H₁₄O₄), calculated with reference to the dried drug. Prepared Slices Processing Remove foreign matter. Grade according to size. Soak briefly. Soften thoroughly. Cut into thick slices. Dry. Description Subrounded thick slices. Outer surface greyish-brown or yellowish-brown. Cut surface white or greyish-white, rich in starch. Cambium ring brown, subrectangular or subrounded. Numerous brown oil dots scattered throughout the cut surface. Odour aromatic. Taste pungent and slightly bitter. Identification As required for the crude drug. Water As required for the crude drug. Total Ash Not more than 5.0%, following the method for the crude drug. Extractives As required for the crude drug. Assay As required for the crude drug. Property and Flavor Warm; pungent. Meridian Tropism Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung meridians. Actions To release the exterior, disperse cold, expel wind, relieve pain, open the nasal orifices, dry dampness, stop abnormal vaginal discharge, reduce swelling, and expel pus. Indications Common cold, headache, supraorbital pain, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, toothache, leukorrhea, sores, ulcers, swelling, and pain. Administration and Dosage 3–10 g. Storage Preserve in a cool, dry place, protected from insects.