DEFINITION

Sichuan Lovage Rhizome (also known as Chuanxiong) consists of the dried rhizome of Ligusticum striatum DC. (syn. Ligusticum chuanxiong S.H.Qiu, Y.Q.Zeng, K.Y.Pan, Y.C.Tang & J.M.Xu) (Fam. Apiaceae) collected in the summer when the stem nodal points obviously protrude and are light purple in color. It contains NLT 1.5% of total butylidenephthalides calculated as the sum of senkyunolide A (C₁₂H₁₆O₂), E-ligustilide (C₁₂H₁₄O₂), Z-ligustilide (C₁₂H₁₄O₂), and Z-butylidenephthalide (C₁₂H₁₂O₂); and NLT 0.2% of total phenylpropanoids calculated as the sum of ferulic acid (C₁₀H₁₀O₄) and coniferyl ferulate (C₂₀H₂₀O₆), both on the anhydrous basis.