PDR for Herbal Medicines

54/ASPARAGUS PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Woeldecke M, Hermann K, (1974) Z Lebensm Untersuch

Forsch 25: 459

Further information in:

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges Stuttgart 1997.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Hausen B, Allergiepflanzen, Pflanzenallergene, ecomed

Verlagsgesellsch. mbH, Landsberg 1988.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Asparagus officinalis

See Asparagus

Aspidosperma quebracho-

bianco

See Quebracho

Astragalus gummifer

See Tragacanth

Astragalus (Huang-Qi)

Astragalus species

TRADE NAMES
Astragalus (available from numerous manufacturers), Astra-
galus Root, Superior Chinese Astragalus, Astragalus Vegi-
caps, Astragalus Extract, Alvita Astragalus Root

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The primary medicinal parts of the herb are

the roots.

Flower and Fruit: The flower racemes are apical, and most

are axillary. The inflorescenses have' many small, blue,

purple or blue-purple flowers. Two to three days following

bloom, pods will develop in a square shape of a cross section

with two chambers. There are 10 dark brown seeds in each

chamber. The seeds are 6 to 13 mm long.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial and has

several stems 1.5 to 2.0 m in height. The stems are covered

with pinnate leaves with T-shaped soft hairs. The primary

root is thick, long and contains many lateral roots. There is a

secondary root beginning 20 to 30 feet below the soil

surface.

Characteristics: The plant is cold tolerant and also able to

grow in high temperatures.

Habitat: Astragalus australis is an endemic plant of the

Olympic Mountains, Washington. Other species are grown in

northern and southern parts of China, Japan, and Korea.

Other Names: Beg Kei, Bei Qi, Hwanggi, Membranous Milk

Vetch, Astragali, Tragacanth

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Triterpene glycosides: brachyosides A, B, and C, and

cyclocephaloside II, astrachrysoside A

Saponins: astragalosides I, II, and IV, isoastragaloside I, 3-0-

beta-D-xylopyranosyl-cycloastragenol, cyclocanthoside E,

soyasaponin I and cycloastragenol

Tragacanth (from the sap)

Sterols: daucosterol and beta-sitosterol

Fatty acids: including heptenoic acid, tetradecanoic acid,

pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecenoic acid,

octadecanoic acid, octadecadienoic acid, linolenic acid,

eicosanoic acid, eicosenoic acid and docosanoic acid

Isoflavonoid compounds: astrasieversianin XV (II), 7,2'-

dihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxy-isoflavane-7-0-beta-D-glucoside

(III)

Amino acids: gamma-L-glutamyl-Se-methyl-seleno-L-cyste-

ine, Se-methylseleno-L-cysteine

Polysaccharides

EFFECTS

Antiviral—Astragalus membranaceus inhibits the replication

of coxsackie B-3 virus (CB3V)-RNA, a virus that causes

myocarditis in animal models (Peng, 1995). The herb

demonstrated significantly higher survival rates and lower