Angelica root extract is used to give a sweet aroma to cigarettes but contains coumarin, a carcinogen in rats. While angelica root extract remains on the Food and Drug Administration's Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) list, Hoffmann says, the FDA removed one additive, deer tongue extract, many years ago because it contained coumarin. Other plant extracts also contain coumarin, he warns. "About most of these other components [on the list], we know very, very little."
                                                       --Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 102, Number 9, September 1994

Angelica is "known to cause cancer in animals." -- smokefreedom.net

angelica

n. 1. A substance of a reddish brown color, and when fresh is of the consistence of honey, obtained from a bag being behind the navel of the male musk deer. It has a slightly bitter taste, but is specially remarkable for its powerful and enduring odor. It is used in medicine as a stimulant antispasmodic. The term is also applied to secretions of various other animals, having a similar odor.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

 

 

an·gel·i·ca    (n-jl-k)
n.
  1.  
    1. Any of various herbs of the genus Angelica in the parsley family, having pinnately compound leaves and small white or greenish flowers in compound umbels, especially A. archangelica, whose roots and fruits are used in flavoring liqueurs and whose stems are candied and eaten.
    2. The edible stem, leaf, or root of Angelica archangelica.
  2. often Angelica A sweet white wine or liqueur.
[Medieval Latin (herba) angelica, angelic (herb), angelica, from Late Latin, feminine of angelicus, angelic, from Late Greek angelikos, from Greek, of a messenger, from angelos, messenger.]
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


angelica

n 1: any of various tall and stout herbs of the genus Angelica having pinnately compound leaves and small white or greenish flowers in compound umbels [syn: angelique] 2: candied stalks of the angelica plant 3: aromatic stems or leaves or roots of Angelica Archangelica

Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University