Membranous milk-vetch
StarAstragalus mongholicus
Synonyms: Phaca macrostachys, Tragacantha mongholica, Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus, Tragacantha membranacea, Phaca membranacea, Astragalus propinquus, Astragalus mongholicus var. dahuricus, Astragalus penduliflorus var. dahuricus, Astragalus mongholicus f. albiflorus, Astragalus propinquus var. glaber, Astragalus membranaceus f. propinquus, Astragalus purdomii, Astragalus membranaceus var. mandshuricus, Phaca abbreviata, Astragalus borealimongolicus, Phaca alpina var. dahurica, Astragalus penduliflorus var. mongholicus
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Astragalus mongholicus is a perennial herbaceous legume growing 50-150 cm tall, with erect, slightly branched stems clothed in fine white hairs. The leaves are odd-pinnately compound, bearing 12-18 pairs of small elliptical leaflets. In summer, loose axillary racemes carry small pale-yellow, pea-like (papilionaceous) flowers, which give way to inflated, membranous pods. The medicinal organ is the long, cylindrical taproot, which reaches 30-90 cm, has few lateral branches, and is covered by a tough, wrinkled yellowish-brown skin enclosing a fibrous yellowish-white interior. Native to grasslands, open woodland and mountain slopes of northern China and Mongolia, it favours dry, sandy, well-drained soils at elevations of roughly 800-2000 m.
Active Constituents
Astragaloside IV
Cycloartane triterpenoid saponinConcentration: ~0.02-0.1% of root (marker compound)
The principal saponin marker used in pharmacopoeial quality control. Preclinically it shows cardioprotective, anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory (NF-κB inhibition), antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity, and is the most studied active constituent.
Astragalus polysaccharides (APS)
PolysaccharidesConcentration: Major (several % of root)
High-molecular-weight glucans that account for much of the traditional 'qi-tonifying' immune activity, stimulating macrophage and lymphocyte function and showing antioxidant and immunoregulatory effects in experimental models.
Calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside
IsoflavonoidConcentration: Minor marker constituents
Isoflavones with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic and vasoprotective activity; calycosin-7-O-glucoside is a second official marker in quality control.
Formononetin
IsoflavoneConcentration: Minor
A phytoestrogenic isoflavone studied for angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
Astragalosides I-VII / isoastragalosides
Cycloartane saponinsConcentration: Minor
Family of related saponins contributing to the overall cardiotonic and immunomodulatory saponin fraction.
Cycloastragenol
Triterpenoid aglyconeConcentration: Trace (aglycone of astragalosides)
Aglycone of astragaloside IV that has attracted interest as a telomerase activator in cell studies; clinical relevance remains unproven.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Immunosuppressants (e.g. cyclophosphamide, calcineurin inhibitors)
Astragalus polysaccharides stimulate cellular and humoral immunity, which could theoretically oppose the intended action of immunosuppressive drugs in transplant or autoimmune settings (though some oncology studies used it to reduce chemotherapy toxicity).
Clinical note: Avoid in solid-organ transplant recipients and others requiring immunosuppression unless supervised.
Anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs
Some experimental data suggest antiplatelet and vasodilatory activity; additive bleeding risk with warfarin or antiplatelets is plausible but not clinically documented.
Clinical note: Monitor when combined with anticoagulants.
Antihypertensive / diuretic drugs
Astragalus has mild diuretic and blood-pressure-lowering effects in some models, which could add to antihypertensive or diuretic therapy.
Clinical note: Monitor blood pressure if combined.
Preparation Methods
Decoction (Huang Qi)
Parts: Root
Traditionally 9-30 g of sliced dried root simmered in water, often combined with other qi-tonifying herbs, taken for fatigue, poor appetite, sweating and to support immune function during convalescence.
Tincture / fluid extract
Parts: Root
Hydroalcoholic extracts are used as a daily tonic; standardized products may specify astragaloside IV content.
Powder / capsule
Parts: Root
Dried powdered root or concentrated extract in capsules is used as an adaptogenic immune tonic; injectable astragalus preparations used in Chinese hospital practice are not a self-care form and require professional administration.
Clinical Studies
Meta-analysis of the clinical value of Astragalus membranaceus in diabetic nephropathy
Pooled 25 studies (21 randomized) with about 1,804 diabetic nephropathy patients. Adjunctive Astragalus was associated with reductions in urinary protein and improvements in renal-function markers versus conventional therapy alone, though the authors cautioned about generally low methodological quality.
Astragalus membranaceus (Huang Qi) as adjunctive therapy for diabetic kidney disease: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
An updated review of randomized trials of Astragalus preparations added to conventional care for diabetic kidney disease found short-term reductions in albuminuria, proteinuria and serum creatinine, while stressing that heterogeneity, publication bias and limited trial quality warrant cautious interpretation.
Historical Texts
Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)
c. 200 BCE-200 CE (Han China)Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shizhen)
1596 CE (Ming dynasty)References
- Li M, Wang W, Xue J, Gu Y, Lin S.. Meta-analysis of the clinical value of Astragalus membranaceus in diabetic nephropathy . Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2011) [DOI]
- Li S, Sun Y, Gao D, et al.. Astragaloside IV derived from Astragalus membranaceus: A research review on the pharmacological effects . Advances in Pharmacology (2020) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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