Astragalus

About Astragalus

Astragalus refers to the dried root of Astragalus mongholicus, also known as Astragalus membranaceus, a perennial of the legume family native to northern China and Mongolia. Known in Chinese as huang qi, meaning yellow leader, it is a core herb of traditional Chinese medicine, where it is described as tonifying qi, or vital energy. The genus Astragalus is one of the largest among flowering plants, and some of its species are toxic to livestock. The main constituents of the medicinal root are saponins called astragalosides, especially astragaloside IV, along with flavonoids and polysaccharides. Laboratory and animal studies report immunomodulatory effects, including activation of immune cells. In China, astragalus preparations have been studied as adjuncts to chemotherapy and in kidney and heart disease, but reviews describe much of this research as low in quality. The derived compound cycloastragenol has drawn interest as a reported telomerase activator, though no benefit for human aging has been shown. Astragalus may interact with immunosuppressant drugs.