Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Oleoresin is used for expulsion of tapeworms
along with a saline laxative such as magne-
sium or sodium sulfate.

Traditional Medicine. Has been reported to
be used in treating tumors.^10

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Crude and oleoresin. Was formerly official in

U.S.P.

REFERENCES

See the General References forBAILEY1;CLAUS;DER MARDEROSIAN AND BEUTLER;GOSSELIN;GRIEVE;
KARRER;MARTINDALE;MCGUFFIN1&2;MERCK;USD 26 TH;YOUNGKEN.

1. C. J. Widen,Helv. Chim. Acta, 54 , 2824
   (1971).


2. M. Guley and T. Soylemezoglu,Ankara
   Univ. Eczacilik Fak. Mecm., 6 , 214
   (1976).


3. F. Bottari et al.,Phytochemistry, 11 , 2519
   (1972).


4. O. Faix et al.,Holzforschung, 31 (5), 137
   (1977).


5. H. Otsuka et al.,Takeka Kenkyusho Ho,
   30 , 225 (1971).
   6. H. S. Puri et al.,Planta Med., 33 , 177
   (1975).
   7. G. P. Husson et al.,Ann. Pharm. Fr., 44 ,
   41 (1986).
   8. S. S. A. Vichkanova et al.,Rast. Resur.,
   18 , 93 (1982).
   9. D. H. Li et al.,Zhongcaoyao, 17 (6), 14
   (1986).


6. J. L. Hartwell,Lloydia, 33 , 288 (1970).

ASTRAGALUS

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

Common/vernacular names: Astragalus,
huangqi, membranous milk vetch (A. membra-
naceus); astragalus, Mongolian milk vetch (A.
mongholicus),andmilkvetch(Astragalusspp.).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Astragalusspp. 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 severalAs-

tragalusspecies serve as source of astragalus

root,A. membranaceusandA. mongholicus

yield most of the root in commerce and on

which most the chemical and pharmacological

research has been performed.^1

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 depres-

sors), which is produced by thoroughly moist-

ening the raw root, cutting into thick slices,

and drying; and the latter is produced by frying

Astragalus 55