What is astragalus?

    Last Updated: July 31, 2024

    Various Astragalus species are used in alternative medicine around the world.[1][2] This page refers to Astragalus membranaceus, a popular herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as Astragali radix or huangqi.[3][4] Astragalus membranaceus can be used alone, but it is also paired with another herb called Angelicae sinensis in Danggui Buxue Tang, a Chinese medicine.[5] Astragalus membranaceus contains several bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins. Its major bioactive molecules include calycosin, formononetin, cycloastragenol, and astragaloside IV,[6][7] and another of its bioactive molecules has been patented under the name TA-65 (telomerase activator 65).[8]

    References

    1. ^Amiri MS, Joharchi MR, Nadaf M, Nasseh YEthnobotanical knowledge of spp.: The world's largest genus of vascular plants.Avicenna J Phytomed.(2020)
    2. ^Salehi B, Carneiro JNP, Rocha JE, Coutinho HDM, Morais Braga MFB, Sharifi-Rad J, Semwal P, Painuli S, Moujir LM, de Zarate Machado V, Janakiram S, Anil Kumar NV, Martorell M, Cruz-Martins N, El Beyrouthy M, Sadaka CAstragalus species: Insights on its chemical composition toward pharmacological applications.Phytother Res.(2020-Dec-16)
    3. ^Liu P, Zhao H, Luo YAnti-Aging Implications of (Huangqi): A Well-Known Chinese Tonic.Aging Dis.(2017-Dec)
    4. ^Fu J, Wang Z, Huang L, Zheng S, Wang D, Chen S, Zhang H, Yang SReview of the botanical characteristics, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi).Phytother Res.(2014-Sep)
    5. ^Kwan KKL, Huang Y, Leung KW, Dong TTX, Tsim KWKDanggui Buxue Tang, a Chinese Herbal Decoction Containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Modulates Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Cultured Cardiomyoblasts.Front Pharmacol.(2019)
    6. ^Zhang J, Wu C, Gao L, Du G, Qin XAstragaloside IV derived from Astragalus membranaceus: A research review on the pharmacological effects.Adv Pharmacol.(2020)
    7. ^Gu Y, Wang G, Pan G, Fawcett JP, A J, Sun JTransport and bioavailability studies of astragaloside IV, an active ingredient in Radix Astragali.Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol.(2004-Dec)
    8. ^Harley CB, Liu W, Blasco M, Vera E, Andrews WH, Briggs LA, Raffaele JMA natural product telomerase activator as part of a health maintenance program.Rejuvenation Res.(2011-Feb)