PDR for Herbal Medicines

56/ASTRAGALUS (HUANG-QI) PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Drug Interactions:

Cyclophosphamide—Although enhancement of the antibody

response through an increase of Th cell activity was seen in

cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed animal models, an-

other study demonstrated the herb does not prevent cy-

clophosphamide-induced myelosuppression. Astragalus

membranaceus given concomitantly with cyclophosphamide

showed no difference in terms of nadir count, time to nadir

and time to recovery for both the ANC and the platelet

counts (Khoo, 1995; Zhao, 1990).

Anticoagulants/Antiplatelets/Antithrombotic Agents—Due

to the increased fibrinolysis effect of astragaloside IV,

concomitant use with anticoagulants, antiplatelets or anti-

thrombotic agents may potentiate the risk of bleeding

(Zhang, 1997).

DOSAGE

How Supplied:

Capsule—200 mg, 250 mg, 400 mg, 450 mg, 470 mg, 500

mg, 520 mg

Liquid

Tea Bag

Daily Dosage: The dried root is administered as 2-6 grams

daily, and the fluid extract as 4 to 12 milliliters daily (Bone,

1997). The powdered root capsule (250 mg-500 mg) has

been administered as two capsules three times daily (Foster,

1998).

LITERATURE
Abdennebi EH, el Ouazzani N, Lamnaouer D., Clinical and
analytical studies of sheep dosed with various preparations of
Astragalus lusitanicus. Vet Hum Toxicol 1998 Dec;40(6):327-
31.
Barneby, R. 1964. Atlas of North American astragalus part II.
Mem. New York Bot. Gard. Vol. 13.
Bedir D; Calis I; Aquino R et al. Secondary metabolites from
the roots of Astragalus trojanus. J .Nat Prod 1999
Apr;62(4):563-8.
Bedir E; Calis I; Aquino R et al. Cycloartane triterpene
glycosides from the roots of Astragalus brachypterus and
Astragalus microcephalus. J Nat Prod 1998 Dec;61(12):1469-72.
Bone K: Clinical Applications of Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbs:
Monographs for the Western Herbal Practitioner. Phytotherapy
Press, Queensland, Australia 1997.
Chen LX; Liao JZ; Guo WQ. Effects of Astragalus
membranaceus on left ventricular function and oxygen free
radical in acute myocardial infarction patients and mechanism
of its cardiotonic action. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho
Tsa Chih 1995 Mar;15(3):141-3.

Chen M; Liu F. Chemical constituents of the seed oil of

Astragalus complanatus R. Brown. Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa

Chih 1990 Apr;15(4):225-6, 255.

Chu D; Sun Y; Lin J et al. F3, a fractionated extract of

Astragalus membranaceus, potentiates lymphokine-activated

killer cell cytotoxicity generated by low-dose recombinant

interleukin-2. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1990

Jan;10(l):34-6, 5.

Chu DT; Lin JR; Wong W. The in vitro potentiation of LAK

cell cytotoxicity in cancer and aids patients induced by F3—a

fractionated extract of Astragalus membranaceus. Chung Hua

Chung Liu Tsa Chih 1994 May; 16(3): 167-71.

Foster S. Astragalus: A superior herb. Herbs for Health 1998;

Sept/Oct:40-41.

Guo XW; Zhang XX; Zhang ZM; Li FD. Characterization of

astragalus sinicus rhizobia by restriction fragment length

polymorphism analysis of chromosomal and nodulation genes

regions. Curr Microbiol 1999 Dec;39(6):358-0364.

Hirotani M; Zhou Y; Rui H; Furuya T. Cycloartane triterpene

glycosides from the hairy root cultures of Astragalus

membranaceus. Phytochemistry 1994 Nov;37(5): 1403-7.

Hong CY; Lo YC; Tan FC et al. Astragalus membranaceus and

Polygonum multiflorum protect rat heart mitochondria against

lipid peroxidation. Am J Chin Med 1994;22(l):63-70.

Hong GX; Qin WC; Huang LS. Memory-improving effect of

aqueous extract of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.

Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih 1994 Nov;19(l l):687-8, 704.

Kaye TN. From flowering to dispersal: reproductive ecology of

an endemic plant, Astragalus australis var. olympicus

(Fabaceae). Am J Bot 1999 Sep;86(9): 1248.

Khoo KS; Ang PT. Extract of astragalus membranaceus and

ligustrum lucidum does not prevent cyclophosphamide-induced

myelosuppression. Singapore Med J 1995 Aug;36(4):387-90.

Lei ZY; Qin H; Liao JZ. Action of Astragalus membranaceus

on left ventricular function of angina pectoris. Chung Kuo

Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1994 Apr; 14(4): 199-202, 195.

Li SQ; Yuan RX; Gao H. Clinical observation on the treatment

of ischemic heart disease with Astragalus membranaceus. Chung

Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1995 Feb;15(2):77-80.

Luo HM; Dai RH; Li Y. Nuclear cardiology study on effective

ingredients of Astragalus membranaceus in treating heart failure.

Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1995

Dec;15(12):707-9.

Ma J; Peng A; Lin S. Mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of

astragalus membranaceus on sodium and water retention in

experimental heart failure. Chin Med J (Engl) 1998

Jan;l 11(1): 17-23.

Nigam SN; McConnell WB. Seleno amino compounds from

Astragalus bisculcatus. Isolation and identification of gamma-L-

glutamyl-Se-methyl-seleno-L-cysteine and Se-methylseleno-L-

cysteine. Biochim Biophys Acta 1969 Nov 18;192(2):185-90.