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Astragalus

 
McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Dictionary:

astragalus

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(ə′strag·ə·ləs)

(anatomy) The bone of the ankle which articulates with the bones of the leg. Also known as talus.

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Leung's Encyclopedia of Natural Ingredients:

Astragalus

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Source: Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch. ex Link) Bunge. (syn. A. propinguus B. Schischk.) A. mongholicus Bunge. (syn. A. membranaceus (L.) (Fish. ex Link) Bunge. var. mongholicus (Bunge.) P. K. Hsiao), and other Chinese Astragalus spp. (Family Leguminosae or Fabaceae).

Common/vernacular names: Astragalus, huangqi, membranous milk vetch (A. membranaceus); astragalus, Mongolian milk vetch (A. mongholicus), and milk vetch (Astragalus spp.).

Astragalus spp. are perennial herbs, up to about 1 m high (normally 0.5–0.8 m). Most are native to northern China and some to high regions such as Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet; extensively cultivated. Although several Astragalus species serve as source of astragalus root, A. membranaceus and A. mongholicus yield most of the root in commerce and on which most the chemical and pharmacological research has been performed.

Part used is the dried root from 4- to 7-year-old plants collected in the spring before leaves appear or in autumn after they have fallen. After the root is dug up, the crown and rootlets are removed along with dirt and then usually sun dried. The most commonly used forms are raw astragalus (dried root) and cured (honey-treated) astragalus; the former usually comes in slices (size and shape like tongue depressors), which is produced by thoroughly moistening the raw root, cutting into thick slices, and drying; and the latter is produced by frying the sliced root with honey (from 25–30 parts to 100 parts of root) over medium heat until no longer sticky to touch.

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Saunders Veterinary Dictionary:

Astragalus

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A genus of the legume family Fabaceae in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Many of the Astragalus spp. are poisonous with several forms of poisoning.
A number of species of the genus grow preferentially in selenium-rich soils and accumulate much more selenium than other plants, enhancing the probability of producing selenium poisoning. Included are A. bisulcatus, A. pattersonii, A. pectinatus, A. praelongus, A. preussi, A. racemosus.
Many species of the genus contain toxic aliphatic nitro compounds. Poisoning is manifested by nitrite (‘nitro’) poisoning or by acute respiratory distress or chronic incoordination, blindness and respiratory stertor. Includes A. arequipensis, A. atropubescens, A. bergii, A. campestris, A. canadensis, A. chamissonis, A. cryptobotrys, A. distinens, A. emoryanus var. emoryanus, A. falcatus, A. garbancillo, A. hamosus, A. hylophylus, A. miser, A. miser var. hylophylus (locoweed, timber milk vetch), A. miser var. oblongifolus, A. miser var. serotinus, A. oblongifolus, A. palenae, A. pehuenches, A. pterocarpus, A. serotinus, A. tetrapterus, A. toanus, A. vesiculosus.
Long-term ingestion of any one of a series of species of the plant causes ‘loco’ or locoweed poisoning, an acquired lysosomal storage disease caused by swainsonine, which is manifested by incoordination, extreme hypersensitivity and excitability. Includes A. allochrous, A. argillophilus, A. bisulcatus, A. diphysus, A. earlei, A. lentiginosus, A. lonchocarpus, A. lusitanicus (Erophaca baetica), A. missouriensis, A. mollisimus, A. nothoxys, A. nuttallianus, A. pubentissimus, A. strictus, A. tephrodes, A. thurberi, A. wootonii, A. variabilis. Chronic heart failure due to swainsonine is caused by A. lentiginosus at high altitudes.
Abortion is a common manifestation and is accompanied by a great variety of skeletal defects including arthrogryposis and hypermobility. Called also locoweed, milk vetch.

Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Astragalus

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This article is about the plant genus. For the ankle bone, see talus bone.
Astragalus
Astragalus tragacantha ssp. vicentinus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Galegeae
Subtribe: Astragalinae
Genus: Astragalus
L.
Type species
Astragalus onobrychis
L.
Synonyms

Acanthophaca Nevski
Aragallus Neck. ex Greene
Astenolobium Nevski
Astracantha Podlech
Atelophragma Rydb.
Barnebyella Podlech
Batidophaca Rydb.
Biserrula L.[Note 1]
Brachyphragma Rydb.
Cnemidophacos Rydb.
Contortuplicata Medik.
Cryptorrhynchus Nevski
Ctenophyllum Rydb.
Cystium Steven
Didymopelta Regel & Schmalh.
Diholcos Rydb.
Diplotheca Hochst.
Erophaca Boiss.[Note 1]
Geoprumnon Rydb.
Gynophoraria Rydb.
Hamosa Medik.
Hedyphylla Steven
Hesperastragalus A. Heller
Hesperonix Rydb.
Holcophacos Rydb.
Homalobus Nutt.
Jonesiella Rydb.
Kentrophyta Nutt.
Kiapasia Woronow ex Grossh.
Lonchophaca Rydb.
Microphacos Rydb.
Mystirophora Nevski
Neodielsia Harms
Oedicephalus Nevski
Onix Medik.
Ophiocarpus (Bunge) Ikonn.
Orophaca (Torr. & A. Gray) Britton[Note 1]
Oxyglottis (Bunge) Nevski
Phaca L.
Phacomene Rydb.
Phacopsis Rydb.
Phyllolobium Fisch. ex Spreng.[Note 1]
Pisophaca Rydb.
Podlechiella Maassoumi & Kaz. Osaloo[Note 1]
Poecilocarpus Nevski
Pterophacos Rydb.
Sewerzowia Regel & Schmalh.
Thium Steud.
Tragacantha Mill.
Xylophacos Rydb.

Astragalus (As-trá-ga-lus) is a large genus of about 3,000 species[1] of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milk-vetch (most species), locoweed (in western US, some species; although most locoweeds are not genus Astragalus but in related genera)[2] and goat's-thorn (A. gummifer, A. tragacanthus). Some pale-flowered vetches are similar in appearance, but vetches are more vine-like.

Contents

Species

Astragalus glycyphyllos

Astragalus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the following case-bearers of the genus Coleophora: C. astragalella (feeds exclusively on A. glycyphyllos), C. cartilaginella (feeds exclusively on Astragalus), C. colutella, C. euryaula (feeds exclusively on Astragalus), C. gallipennella (feeds exclusively on A. glycyphyllos), C. hippodromica (feeds exclusively on A. gombo), C. onobrychiella (feeds exclusively on Astragalus), C. polonicella (feeds exclusively on A. arenarius) and C. vicinella.

Traditional uses

Main article: Astragalus propinquus

Astragalus propinquus (also known as Astragalus membranaceus) has a history of use as a herbal medicine and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.[3]

Research

The biotechnology firms Geron Corporation and TA Therapeutics of Hong Kong have been working on deriving a telomerase activator from it. The chemical constituent cycloastragenol (also called TAT2) is being studied to help combat HIV, as well as infections associated with chronic diseases or aging.[4] However, the National Institutes of Health states: The evidence for using astragalus for any health condition is limited. High-quality clinical trials (studies in people) are generally lacking. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that astragalus, either alone or in combination with other herbs, may have potential benefits for the immune system, heart, and liver, and as an adjunctive therapy for cancer.[5]

A study published in the Nov. 2008 Journal of Immunology, researchers shed light on the anti-viral and anti-aging benefits of Astragalus. In their paper, a team of researchers from the UCLA AIDS Institute describe how their work with a new drug derived from astragalus root reduces the aging process of immune cells, and enhances how these cells respond to viral infections. The compound works by boosting production of telomerase, an enzyme that allows for the replacement of short bits of DNA, known as telomeres, that play a key role in cell replication, cancer and human aging.[6]

Supplement use

Extracts of Astragalus membranaceus are marketed as life prolonging extracts in humans. A proprietary extract of the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus, called TA-65, 'was associated with a significant age-reversal effect in the immune system, in that it led to declines in the percentage of senescent cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells after six to twelve months of use.'[dubious – discuss][7][unreliable source?] In October 2010, Intertek/AAC Labs, an ISO 17025 internationally recognized lab, found the largest component of TA-65 to be Cycloastragenol.[8] Telomerase activation was feared to pose an increased risk of cancer because telomere shortening is a mechanism that limits cell proliferation. However, short telomeres result in chromosome instability, hence there is also a potential mechanism for telomere lengthening to protect against cancer (as distinct from mutation-induced activation).[9]

Side effects

Astragalus may interact with medications that suppress the immune system, such as cyclophosphamide.[5] It may also affect blood sugar levels and blood pressure.[5] Some Astragalus species can be toxic. For example, several species that grow in the United States contain the neurotoxin swainsonine.[5]

Ornamental use

Several species, including A. alpinus (bluish-purple flowers), A. hypoglottis (purple flowers) and A. lotoides, are grown as ornamental plants in gardens.

Toxicology

The family of Astragalus has been reviewed by Rios and Waterman, indicating that the toxicities vary from one species to another.[10]

Selected species

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

(See external references)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e This may actually be a valid genus.

References

  1. ^ David G. Frodin (2004). "History and concepts of big plant genera". Taxon 53 (3): 753–776. doi:10.2307/4135449. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iapt/tax/2004/00000053/00000003/art00012. 
  2. ^ Astragalus (Locoweed) flowers
  3. ^ http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/astragalus-000223.htm
  4. ^ "Herbal chemical helps combat HIV". United Press International. January 1, 2009. http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/01/01/Herbal_chemical_helps_combat_HIV/UPI-75921230846928/. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
  5. ^ a b c d Astragalus, NCCAM
  6. ^ Jim English (2008). "Anti-Aging and Anti-Viral Effects of Herbal "Youth" Compound". Nutrition Review 3 (5). http://www.nutritionreview.org/library/anti-aging.php. Retrieved 2012-01-05. 
  7. ^ Calvin B. Harley, Weimin Liu, Maria Blasco, Elsa Vera, William H. Andrews, Laura A. Briggs & Joseph M. Raffaele (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.liebertonline.com/doi/full/10.1089/rej.2010.1085. 
  8. ^ American Analytical Chemistry Laboratories Analysis Document #100710-236 of TA-65
  9. ^ Keiko Hiyama, Eiso Hiyama, Keiji Tanimoto & Masahiko Nishiyama (2009). "Role of telomeres and telomerase in cancer". In Keiko Hiyama. Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancer. Cancer Drug Discovery and Development. II. Humana Press. pp. 171–180. doi:10.1007/978-1-60327-879-9_7. ISBN 978-1-60327-879-9. http://www.springerlink.com/content/m8k8770876771t02/. 
  10. ^ Rios, J. L.; P. G. Waterman (1998). "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. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Astragalus
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McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Leung's Encyclopedia of Natural Ingredients. Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics Copyright © 2010 by Wiley-Blackwell. Wiley and the Wiley logo are registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Used here by license.  Read more
Saunders Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia on Answers.com. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Astragalus.  Read more

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