72 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group, positive control groups (8–methoxypsoralen and anthracene) and low, medium and high dose groups of radix Angelicae dahurica and each group was treated by the two conditions with or without ultraviolet radiation. The skin irritation reaction score at different time points was measured using Draize method, and the skin phototoxicity was evaluated by weight change of rat ear slices. The mRNA expression levels of five inflammatory related genes (COX–2, EP1, TNF–α, IL–1β and IL–6) in skin tissue of each group were analyzed and compared by qPCR method. Result: without ultraviolet radiation, there were no erythema and edema in the skin of rats in each group, and the skin irritation reaction score was 0. With the radiation, the rats in control group did not appear skin erythema and edema; some rats appear slight erythema or edema phenomenon only in the medium or/and high doses of radix Angelicae dahurica. In addition, compared with the blank control group, the ear weight of the rats only in the positive control group increased significantly (P<0.05), and the expression levels of five inflammation related genes showed that the relative expression level of only IL–6 mRNA in skin tissue of rats with the high dose of Angelica dahurica water extract increased significantly(P<0.05). These results indicated that the recommended dose of radix Angelicae dahurica water extract has no phototoxic effects on the skin of rats and meets the requirements of food safety.