Astragalus membranaceus

BOTANICAL NAME/FAMILY

·         Astragalus membranaceus

OTHER NAMES

·         Astragali, beg kei, bei qi, hwanggi, huang-qi, milk vetch, goat’s horn, green dragon, Mongolian milk, ogi, Syrian tragacanth

PLANT PARTS USED

·        root

CHEMICAL COMPONENTS

·         Astragalus is a chemically complex herb and contains over 60 components including beta-sitosterol, glycosides (astragalosides I through VII, soyasaponin, daucosterin), polysaccharides (astroglucans A through C), saponins such as cycloastragenol, astragalosides, isoflavones and other flavonoids, plant acid, choline, betaine, rumatakenin, formonetin, amino acids (including gamma-aminobutyric acid) and various microelements

MAIN ACTIONS                       

·        Immune modulation by stimulating macrophage activity and enhances lymphocyte blastogenesis

·        Improves cardiac function, arrhythmia and creatinine kinase levels

Other actions include

·        Anti-oxidant, anticarcinogenic effects, strengthens movement and muscle tone of small intestines, improved sperm motility, hepatoprotective actions.

DOSAGE RANGE

• Dried root: 2–30 g/day.
• Liquid extract (1:2) or solid dose equivalent: 4.5–8.5 mL/day.
• Decoction: 8–12 g divided into two doses daily on an empty stomach.

 ADVERSE REACTIONS

·        None known

SIGNIFICANT INTERACTIONS

·       Acyclovir

Possibly enhances antiviral activity against herpes simplex type 1 - adjunctive use may be beneficial.

·       Immunosuppressant medication

Reduced drug activity is theoretically possible, as immunostimulant activity has been demonstrated —use caution.

·       Positive inotropic drugs

Additive effects are theoretically possible with intravenous administration of astragalus, based on positive inotropic activity identified in clinical studies. The clinical significance of these findings for oral dose forms is unknown — observe patients using high-dose astragalus preparations.

·       Cyclophosphamide

Adjunctive treatment with astragalus may have beneficial effects in regards to improving patient wellbeing and reducing adverse effects associated with treatment such as nausea and vomiting — only use combination under professional supervision.

PREGNANCY USE

• Safety is unknown although no evidence of fetal damage has been reported in animal studies