experimental liver toxicity; reducing urinary
protein in chronic and in experimental nephri-
tis; diuretic; improving stamina; and others
(JIANGSU;WANG;ZHOU AND WANG).28,42,43 Its
effects are not due to a single compound or
one single class of compounds but rather to
different types of components, with the sapo-
nins, polysaccharides,21–44and isoflavonoids^3
appearing to play a major role.
A placebo-controlled study onA. membra-
naceousfound that blood leucocytes of sub-
jects treated with the root showed a signifi-
cantly greater level of interferon induction.^45
TOXICOLOGY
Toxicity of astragalus root is very low: a crude
water extract (75 and 100g/kg p.o.) produced
no adverse effects in mice within 48 hours;
LD 50 inmice:40 g/kgi.p.Theformeroraldoses
are 375 and 500 times the usual effective di-
uretic dose in humans (WANG;ZHOU AND WANG).
USES
Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Extracts of astragalus root are used in skin
care cosmetics (e.g., hand and facial creams
and lotions) for its traditional healing and
nourishing as well as vasodilating properties;
also used in hair tonics for similar effects
(ZHOU).
Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Pow-
dered crude and/or extracts are used singly or
in combination with other herbs in capsule,
tablet, or liquid (syrup or drink) form primari-
ly as a general (qi) tonic to improve body
resistance (immunity); also used in sliced or
tea bag cut form in tea or soup mix packets
(FOSTER AND YUE).
Traditional Medicine. One of the major
Chineseqi(energy) tonics, with a recorded
use history of 2000 years. Raw root is tradi-
tionally considered to benefit the body’s resis-
tance (yiwei gubiao), promote diuresis, reduce
swelling, promote suppuration (drains pus,
tuo du), and regenerate tissue or promote
muscle growth (sheng ji). Cured root is said
to reinforce the Middle Burner and replenish
the vital energy (buzhong yiqi).
Raw astragalus used mainly in spontaneous
and night sweating, edema, chronic sores and
abscesses, unhealing wounds and ulcers, and
painful joints; cured astragalus primarily as an
energy (qi) tonic to treat general weakness,
fatigue, lack of appetite, diarrhea caused by
spleen deficiency (pi xu xie xie), rectal pro-
lapse, and uterine bleeding. Uses of the two
occasionally overlap.
Modern/recent uses include prevention and
treatment of the common cold and influenza;
stomach ulcer,^46 neurodermatitis, and diabe-
tes, for which high doses (>60 g) are some-
times used (CHP;JIANGSU). Astragalus root has
also been studied as one of thefuzheng guben
(strengthening body defense therapy) herbs
used in treating AIDS.^47
Usual daily oral dose for adults is 9–30 g.
COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS
Raw astragalus (readily available as sticks or
slices in several grades); powdered crude; and
extracts (aqueous, hydroalcoholic, glycolic).
Most extracts come without standardized
strengths, and powdered astragalus may con-
tain adulterants such as starches and pre-ex-
tracted plant materials.
Regulatory Status. Regulated in the United
States as a dietary supplement.
REFERENCES
See the General References forCHP;DER MARDEROSIAN AND BEUTLER;FOSTER AND YUE;HONGKUI;HU;
HUANG;JIANGSU;JIXIAN;WANG;ZHOU;ZHOU AND WANG.
Astragalus 57