Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Angelica Dahurica Root

Angelicae Dahuricae Radix

Angelica Dahurica Root is the root of Angelica dahurica Bentham et Hooker filius ex Franchet et Savatier (Umbelliferae).

Description:

Main root from which many long roots are branched out and nearly fusiform and conical in whole shape, 10 . 25 cm in length; externally grayish brown to dark brown, with longitudinal wrinkles, and with numerous scars of rootlets laterally elongated and protruded. A few remains of leaf sheath at the crown and ring-nodes closely protruded near the crown. In a transverse section, the outer region is grayish white in color, and the central region is sometimes dark brown in color.
Odor, characteristic; taste, slightly bitter.

Identification:

To 0.2 g of pulverized Angelica Dahurica Root add 5 mL of ethanol (95), shake for 5 minutes, and filter. Examine the filtrate under ultraviolet light (main wavelength: 365 nm): a blue to blue-purple fluorescence develops.

Purity:

(1) Leaf sheath.When perform the test of foreign matter, the amount of leaf sheath contained in Angelica Dahurica Root does not exceed 3.0z.
(2) Heavy metals. Proceed with 3.0 g of pulverized Angelica Dahurica Root according to Method 3, and perform the test. Prepare the control solution with 3.0 mL of Standard Lead Solution (not more than 10 ppm).
(3) Arsenic. Prepare the test solution with 0.40 g of pulverized Angelica Dahurica Root according to Method 4, and perform the test (not more than 5 ppm).
(4) Foreign matter. The amount of foreign matter other than leaf sheath contained in Angelica Dahurica Root is not more than 1.0z.

Total ash:

Not more than 7.0z.

Acid-insoluble ash:

Not more than 2.0z.

Extract content:

Dilute ethanol-soluble extract: not less than 25.0z.

Containers and storage:

Containers.Well-closed containers.

Tagged: