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Ligustilide is a natural chemical compound of the dihydrophthalide class. Ligustilide is found in the highest concentration in wild celeries (Apium graveolens). It has also been found in Angelica sinensis and a variety of other plants including Todaroa montana.
Potential pharmacology
Because of the traditional use of Angelica sinesis in herbal medicine, particularly traditional Chinese medicine where it is known as dong quai, there has been interest in identifying chemical compounds responsible for its putative pharmacological effects. Ligustilide is typically identified as the principal bioactive component. A variety of in vitro effects of ligustilide have been reported, including antiinflammatory and neuroprotective effects. However, because of the chemical instability of ligustilide, the relevance of these studies to any effects in humans is uncertain.