Dang Gui Wei (Angelica sinensis tail)

Dang Gui Wei (the tail/root tip of Angelica sinensis) is a bioactive-rich medicinal herb rather than a conventional food source, so macronutrient contributions are clinically negligible at typical dosing (3–15g dried root per day). Key compositional data: Macronutrients (per 100g dried root): Carbohydrates ~60–65g (including polysaccharides ~15–20g, notably APS-1 and APS-2 arabinogalactans), Protein ~8–10g (including amino acids such as arginine, lysine, and valine), Dietary Fiber ~25–30g, Fat ~1–2g (including trace essential fatty acids). Primary Bioactive Compounds: (1) Phthalides — Z-ligustilide (highest concentration, ~1.0–1.5% of essential oil, up to 45–70% of total volatile oil fraction), Z-butylidenephthalide, and levistolide A — responsible for vasodilatory and antispasmodic effects; bioavailability is moderate, enhanced by lipid co-consumption. (2) Ferulic acid — approximately 0.05–0.1% dry weight — a phenolic acid with antioxidant and antiplatelet activity; well-absorbed in the small intestine with ~30–40% oral bioavailability. (3) Polysaccharides (APS) — ~15–20% dry weight — immunomodulatory activity; poorly absorbed intact but exert prebiotic and gut-immune effects. (4) Coumarins — osthole and scopoletin at trace levels (~0.01–0.05% dry weight) — contribute to anti-inflammatory activity. (5) Essential oil fraction — approximately 0.2–0.4% of dried root weight — contains beta-phellandrene, carvacrol, and isosafrole in minor quantities. Micronutrients (approximate per 100g dried root): Potassium ~1,200–1,500mg, Calcium ~200–300mg, Magnesium ~100–150mg, Iron ~15–25mg (notably higher than many plant sources, though non-heme iron with ~5–10% bioavailability), Zinc ~2–4mg, Vitamin B12 — not present. Folate detected at trace levels (~20–30mcg/100g). Vitamin E (tocopherols) ~2–4mg/100g. Bioavailability Notes: Ligustilide is highly lipophilic (logP ~2.5) and benefits from fat-soluble carriers; ferulic acid absorption is pH-dependent and improved in alkaline intestinal conditions; polysaccharide immunomodulatory effects are largely mediated through gut microbiota interaction rather than systemic absorption. The tail portion (Wei) is considered to have a stronger blood-moving (activating) effect compared to the root head, attributed to relatively higher ligustilide and ferulic acid concentrations in the distal root sections.