Phthalides, instead of ferulic acid and tetramethylpyrazine, are the appropriate bioactive chemical markers for the quality assessment and pharmacological evaluation of Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong.

Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong are two of the most widely prescribed traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for treating cardiovascular disorders in China. The therapeutic effects of these two herbs are generally considered as the contribution of their respective constituent ferulic acid and tetramethylpyrazine. Nonetheless, both constituents are of minuscule quantities and ferulic acid is a widespread constituent among numerous botanicals. Phthalides, on the other hand, are the most abundant group of compounds identified in Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong and their biological actions correlate to the clinical activities of both herbs. In the current article, we argue the appropriateness of employing ferulic acid and tetramethylpyrazine as the respective bioactive chemical markers of Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong, and propose that phthalides are a more suitable alternative.