Ligusticum is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Ligusticum sinense Oliv., Plants 0.5–1 m tall. Rootstock thick, apparently swollen at nodes, internodes short. Stem single, erect, striate and branching. Basal petioles 10–20 cm; blade triangular-ovate, 15–20 × 10–15 cm, ternate to 1- or 2-pinnate, primary pinnae 4–6 pairs, proximal pinnae remote; ultimate segments ovate or oblong-ovate, 2–3 × 1–2 cm, margins irregularly serrate. Cauline leaves similar to basal, reduced, sessile, 1-pinnate. Umbels terminal and lateral, 6–8 cm across in fruit; bracts 5–6(–10), linear; rays 15–30, subequal, 3–5 cm; bracteoles 5–8, linear, shorter than pedicels, reflexed. Calyx teeth obsolete.
Nine compounds were isolated and identified as levistolide A (1), (Z)-3-butylidene-7-hydroxyphthalide (2), senkyunolide B (3), 3-butylphthalide(4), (Z)-ligustilide (5), riligustilide (6), neocnidilide (7), senkyunolide A (8), beta-sitostesol (9).