ABSTRACT
Angelica archangelica L. is an aromatic, perennial herb that grows up to 2 meters tall. The plant is native to the temperate regions of Asia, northern, middle and east Europe, and the Himalayas, and has become widely naturalized in northern temperate regions. Angelica is used on a large scale in the grocery trade. The roots and fruits of the angelica and their essential oils are popular flavoring agents for confectionary, liqueurs and other beverages such as Benedictine, Chartreuse, gin and absinthe. A. archangelica is believed to possess ‘angelic’ healing power and has many medicinal applications. Angelica root oil is, when freshly distilled, a colorless, mobile liquid; with storage, its color changes from yellowish to brownish. A patient developed allergic contact dermatitis from the perfume in an eye cream; she was patch tested with all 94 components of the perfume and reacted to angelica root oil and eleven of the other chemicals in the perfume.
