This study aimed to investigate the effects of various cadmium (Cd) concentrations on Ligusticum chuanxiong Lingzong germination and seedling growth.The effect of Cd stress on the germination,seedling growth,physiological metabolism,and Cd content of L. chuanxiong Lingzong was investigated by applying different concentrations of CdCl₂·2.5H₂O (0,0.1,0.25,0.5,1,2 mmol/L) solution in a hydroponic experiment applying quartz sand as the substrate.According to the findings,plant height and root length were inhibited at higher Cd concentrations.The Cd content of the root,leaf,and stem node significantly aggrandized with increasing Cd concentrations,but plant height,root length,and fresh weight of leaf and root reduced.Besides,antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase,peroxidase,peroxidase),non-enzymatic substance content (soluble protein,glutathione,proline),and malonaldehyde content increased first before decreasing.The study found that Cd concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 mmol/L had a substantial harmful effect on L. chuanxiong Lingzong germination and early seedling growth and that the toxic effect increased with increasing Cd stress concentration.The root of L. chuanxiong seedlings was the most sensitive organ to Cd stress.Under Cd stress,the physiological and biochemical indices of L. chuanxiong seedlings exhibited a low-promoting and high-suppressing hormesis.The results revealed that L. chuanxiong seedlings were able to decrease membrane damage,and reactive oxygen species formation,mitigate the toxic effects and improve tolerance of Cd by boosting antioxidant enzyme activity and non-enzymatic material accumulation.