The sulfur-fumigation reduces chemical composition and biological properties of Angelicae sinensis radix

• Published in: Phytomedicine (Stuttgart) Vol. 21; no. 11; pp. 1318 - 1324
• Main Authors: Zhan, Janis Ya-Xian, Yao, Ping, Bi, Cathy Wen-Chuan, Zheng, Ken Yu-zhong, Zhang, Wendy Li, Chen, Jian-Ping, Dong, Tina Ting-Xia, Su, Zi-Ren, Tsim, Karl Wah-Keung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 25.09.2014; Urban & Fischer Verlag
• Subjects: Angelica sinensis - chemistry; Angelica Sinensis Radix; Animals; Biological function; Chemical composition; Chemical properties; Dong quai; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - chemistry; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology; Fumigation; Health aspects; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Humans; MCF-7 Cells; Medicinal plants; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Pharmacognosy; Pharmacology, Experimental; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Roots - chemistry; Platelet Aggregation - drug effects; Rabbits; Sulfur - chemistry; Sulfur-fumigation; China; ASR; Angelica Sinensis Radix; Chemical composition; Biological function; Sulfur-fumigation; TCM
• ISSN: 0944-7113; 1618-095X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2014.07.002

Angelica Sinensis Radix (roots of Angelica sinensis; ASR) is a popular herbal supplement in China for promoting blood circulation. Today, sulfur-fumigation is commonly used to treat ASR as a means of pest control; however, the studies of sulfur-fumigation on the safety and efficacy of ASR are very limited. Here, we elucidated the destructive roles of sulfur-fumigation on ASR by chemical and biological assessments. After sulfur-fumigation, the chemicals in ASR were significantly lost. The biological activities of anti-platelet aggregation, induction of NO production and estrogenic properties were compared between the water extracts of non-fumigated and sulfur-fumigated ASR. In all cases, the sulfur-fumigation significantly reduced the biological properties of ASR. In addition, application of water extract deriving from sulfur-fumigated ASR showed toxicity to cultured MCF-7 cells. In order to ensure the safety and to achieve the best therapeutic effect, it is recommended that sulfur-fumigation is an unacceptable approach for processing herbal materials.