Astragalus propinquus
| Astragalus propinquus | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. propinquus |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus propinquus Schischkin[1] |
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| Synonyms | |
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Astragalus propinquus (syn. Astragalus membranaceus[clarification needed]) also known as huáng qí (yellow leader) (simplified Chinese: 黄芪; traditional Chinese: 黃芪) or běi qí (Chinese: 北芪), huáng hua huáng qí (Chinese: 黄花黄耆),[2] is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.[3] It is a perennial plant and it is not listed as being threatened.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Use
[edit] Herbalism
A. propinquus is used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is used to speed healing and treat diabetes.[4] In western herbal medicine, Astragalus is primarily considered a tonic for enhancing metabolism and digestion and is consumed as a tea or soup made from the (usually dried) roots of the plant, often in combination with other medicinal herbs. It is also traditionally used to strengthen the immune system and in the healing of wounds and injuries.[5]
A. propinquus has been asserted to be a tonic that can improve the functioning of the lungs, adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract, increase metabolism and sweating, promote healing, and reduce fatigue.[6] A mix of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, has been used to treat patients with chronic fatigue.[7]
A report in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found Astragalus membranaceus to show "immunomodulating and immunorestorative effects",[8] The herbal extract supplementation in drinking water can induce an immune stimulation response in immunosuppressed chickens.[9] It has been shown to increase the production of interferon and to activate immune cells such as macrophages.[3]
A report in the journal Rejuvenation Research claimed an extract of Astragalus propinquus called TA-65 can activate telomerase, extending the lengths of the shortest telomeres which protect the terminal DNA at the ends of all chromosomes.[10] The active constituents of the roots (Radix Astragali) include polysaccharides, triterpenoids (astragalosides)[11] as well as isoflavones (including calycosin and formononetin) along with their glycosides and malonates.[12]
[edit] Chemistry
The active medicinal ingredient extracted from the root is 7-hydroxy-4'methoxyisoflavone (IUPAC: 7-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-one).
[edit] Related species
The natural gum tragacanth, which is used in pharmaceuticals and textiles, is obtained from Astragalus tragacanthus.[13]
[edit] Toxicology
Other Astragalus spp. are known to cause severe poisonings in livestock due to indolizine alkaloids, aliphatic nitro compounds and accumulated selenium.[14] None of these constituents have been detected in the medicinal species Astragalus membranaceus used in dietary supplements and TCM preparations.[15]
[edit] Compendial status
Listed in the following official Pharmacopeia:
- Japanese Pharmacopoeia[16]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes & references
- ^ a b c "Astragalus propinquus Schischkin". LegumeWeb. International Legume Database & Information Service. 2005-11-01. http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?version~10.01&LegumeWeb&tno~16104&genus~Astragalus&species~propinquus. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ Joe Hing Kwok Chu. "Huang qi". Complementary and Alternative Healing University. http://alternativehealing.org/huang_qi.htm. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- ^ a b "Astragalus membranaceus - Moench.". Plants for a Future. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Astragalus+membranaceus.
- ^ "Astragalus". University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). 2007. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/astragalus-000223.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
- ^ Han, D. O.; Lee, H. J.; Hahm, D. H. (2009). "Wound-healing Activity of Astragali Radix in Rats". Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology 31 (2): 95–100. doi:10.1358/mf.2009.31.2.1353846. PMID 19455264.
- ^ Balch, P. (2006). Prescription for Nutritional Healing (4th ed.). Avery Penguin Putnam. ISBN 9781583332368.
- ^ Cho J. H.; Cho, C. K.; Shin, J. W.; Son, J. Y.; Kang, W.; Son, C. G. (2009). "Myelophil, an extract mix of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, Ameliorates Chronic Fatigue: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Controlled Pilot Study". Complementary Therapies in Medicine 17 (3): 141–146. PMID 19398067.
- ^ Cho, W. C.; Leung, K. N. (August 2007). "In vitro and in vivo Immunomodulating and Immunorestorative Effects of Astragalus membranaceus". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 113 (1): 132–141. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.05.020. PMID 17611061.
- ^ Liu, F.-X.; Sun S.; Cui, Z.-Z. (2010). "Analysis of Immunological Enhancement of Immunosuppressed Chickens by Chinese Herbal Extracts". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 127 (2): 251–256. PMID 19914368.
- ^ Harley, C. B.; Liu, W.; Blasco, M.; Vera, E.; Andrews, W. H.; Briggs, L. A.; Raffaele, J. M. (2011). "A Natural Product Telomerase Activator As Part of a Health Maintenance Program". Rejuvenation Research 14 (1): 45–56. doi:10.1089/rej.2010.1085. PMC 3045570. PMID 20822369. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=3045570.
- ^ Xu, Q.; Ma, X.; Liang, X. (2007). "Determination of Astragalosides in the Roots of Astragalus spp. Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry". Phytochemical Analysis 18 (5): 419–427. doi:10.1002/pca.997. PMID 17624885.
- ^ Lin, L. Z.; He, X. G.; Lindenmaier, M.; Nolan, G.; Yang, J.; Cleary, M.; Qiu, S. X.; Cordell, G. A. (2000). "Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Study of the Flavonoids of the Roots of Astragalus mongholicus and A. membranaceus". Journal of Chromatography A 876 (1–2): 87–95. PMID 10823504.
- ^ Gentry, H. S.; Mittleman, M.; McCrohan, P. R. (1990). "Introduction of Chia and Gum Tragacanth in the U.S.". Purdue University Crop Index. Purdue University. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1990/v1-252.html. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
- ^ Rios, J. L.; Waterman, P. G. (1997). "A Review of the Pharmacology and Toxicology of Astragalus". Phytotherapy Research 11 (6): 411–418. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(199709)11:6<411::AID-PTR132>3.0.CO;2-6. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/%28SICI%291099-1573%28199709%2911:6%3C411::AID-PTR132%3E3.0.CO;2-6/abstract.
- ^ "Astragalus". WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-963-ASTRAGALUS.aspx?activeIngredientId=963&activeIngredientName=ASTRAGALUS.
- ^ Japanese Pharmacopoeia (15th ed.). http://jpdb.nihs.go.jp/jp15e/JP15.pdf.
[edit] External links
- "Astragalus membranaceus - Moench.". Plants for a Future. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Astragalus+membranaceus.
- "Astragalus membranaceus (FISCH. EX LINK) BUNGE - Fabaceae". Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. ARS / GRIN. http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=140.
