Angelic Acid
Compiled from published pharmacological and botanical literature. Not independently verified by Herbuno. Spotted an error or have a correction? Flag it below →
| Chemical Class | Unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid (2-methyl-2-butenoic acid, cis isomer) |
| Molecular Formula / CAS | C₅H₈O₂ · CAS 565-63-9 |
| Primary Botanical Source(s) | Angelica archangelica root, Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), Petasites hybridus (butterbur, as sesquiterpene esters) |
| Plant Part | Root (Angelica); flower (Roman chamomile); rhizome (butterbur, esterified form) |
| Typical Content | A minor free-acid volatile constituent; more commercially and pharmacologically relevant in its esterified forms (angelates) than as the free acid |
| Solubility / Format | Volatile solid with a pungent, sour odour; occurs mainly as esters bound to larger molecules rather than in free-acid form |
| Sourcing Status | Informational-only — no genuine standardised match among current Herbuno botanical material |
| Buy from Herbuno | Not applicable — see HerbIQ Compound Index for related Angelica and Valerian family ingredients |
Name origin: Angelic acid was first isolated in 1842 by the German pharmacist Ludwig Andreas Buchner from the root of garden angelica, Angelica archangelica, and takes its name directly from that source plant, whose own name reflects the folk belief that an archangel revealed its medicinal properties. Traditional use: Angelica root has a long history of use in European and Scandinavian herbal traditions for digestive complaints, while Roman chamomile — another documented source of angelic acid esters — carries a separate traditional reputation as a sedative and tonic used against fever, colic, heartburn and gout; angelic acid itself was never used as an isolated preparation in either tradition. Research trajectory: Chemical interest in angelic acid shifted early from the free acid itself toward its esters, particularly the angelate esters of sesquiterpene alcohols such as petasin, which research subsequently identified as the pharmacologically active constituents behind butterbur’s traditional spasmolytic and analgesic reputation; modern research on angelic-acid-related pharmacology is therefore concentrated on these ester compounds rather than on free angelic acid. Safety context: Angelic acid is not a controlled substance; it is classified informational-only because no Herbuno botanical material is genuinely standardised to it — Herbuno’s Angelica-derived product is sourced from Angelica sinensis (Dong Quai) and standardised to ligustilide, a different compound from a different Angelica species entirely.
Evidence for Angelic Acid Applications
Angelic acid is the cis geometric isomer of 2-methyl-2-butenoic acid, structurally paired with its more thermodynamically stable trans isomer, tiglic acid, into which it readily converts upon heating or exposure to inorganic acids; the reverse conversion occurs far less readily, meaning processing conditions can shift a plant material’s angelic-to-tiglic acid ratio without necessarily being disclosed on a specification sheet. As a free acid it is a volatile solid with a sharp, sour, biting odour and taste, properties that make it more relevant analytically as a marker compound than as a target for isolated supplementation. Claim strength: Moderate.
The clearest pharmacological relevance of angelic acid comes through its esters rather than the free acid itself. In butterbur (Petasites hybridus), the sesquiterpene esters known collectively as petasins — formed from petasol esterified to angelic acid — are considered the primary pharmacologically active constituents responsible for butterbur’s documented anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic effects, acting in part through inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release, mechanisms that have supported butterbur’s clinical use in migraine prevention research (et al. 2022). Claim strength: Moderate.
Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) is a separate documented source of angelic and tiglic acid esters, where these compounds are described as principal components contributing to the plant’s traditional use as a sedative and digestive tonic; however, unlike the butterbur petasin research, this attribution rests primarily on traditional pharmacognosy literature rather than on dedicated modern pharmacological studies isolating the angelic-acid-ester fraction specifically. Claim strength: Emerging.
Free angelic acid itself has limited independent pharmacological literature; most of the bioactivity attributed to angelic-acid-containing botanicals traces to its esters bound to larger terpenoid or sesquiterpene structures, where the ester linkage itself — not the isolated acid — appears functionally important. This distinction matters for anyone evaluating a supplier claim: a botanical extract containing free angelic acid is not pharmacologically equivalent to one containing the intact angelate esters studied in the petasin and Roman chamomile literature. Claim strength: Emerging.
Dosage & Formulator Specification
No isolated angelic acid ingredient with an established human dosing precedent exists in commercial or clinical literature; the compound is relevant primarily as a structural component of larger ester molecules (such as petasins) rather than as a standalone supplemental target, and those ester-containing extracts (such as standardised butterbur preparations) carry their own separate dosing literature independent of free angelic acid content.
Analytical characterisation of angelic acid in raw botanical material typically uses gas chromatography given its volatility, and must distinguish it from its geometric isomer tiglic acid, since the two readily interconvert under heat or acidic conditions and share very similar chromatographic behaviour without careful method selection.
Botanical material historically associated with angelic acid content — garden angelica root, Roman chamomile flower, and butterbur rhizome — is not currently part of Herbuno’s product catalogue in a form standardised to this compound or its esters. Formulators interested in related pharmacology should note that butterbur preparations carry their own well-documented safety consideration: unprocessed butterbur root also contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which is why commercial butterbur extracts are produced using specialised alkaloid-free extraction methods.
Regulatory positioning for angelic acid itself follows general flavour and fragrance ingredient precedent, since it and its esters occur in various food-flavour contexts at trace levels; no dedicated angelic-acid supplement monograph exists. Any product built around Angelica, Roman chamomile, or butterbur sourcing intent should be evaluated on the specific active compound the material is standardised to, rather than assumed to deliver angelic acid.
Frequently Asked Questions — Angelic Acid
No. Herbuno’s Ligustilide 1% Powder is derived from Angelica sinensis (Dong Quai) and standardised to ligustilide, a different compound entirely. Angelic acid was historically isolated from a different species, Angelica archangelica (garden angelica), which is not the source plant for Herbuno’s current Angelica product.
They are closely related geometric isomers, not the same compound. Angelic acid is the cis form of 2-methyl-2-butenoic acid, while tiglic acid is the more stable trans form; angelic acid converts to tiglic acid under heat or acidic conditions, but the reverse conversion is much less common.
Its esters, particularly the petasin compounds found in butterbur (Petasites hybridus), are considered the pharmacologically active constituents behind butterbur’s documented anti-inflammatory and anti-migraine research. The free acid itself has limited independent pharmacological literature compared to its ester forms.
Because no current Herbuno botanical material is genuinely standardised to angelic acid or its pharmacologically relevant esters. This page documents the compound’s chemistry and research context factually rather than presenting it as an available ingredient.
Related compounds: Ligustilide, Apigenin