Astragalus Standardized Extract
COMMON NAME
Milk Vetch, Locoweed, Yellow Vetch, Poison Vetch, Chinese Astragalus, Huang Ch'i
LATIN NAME
Astragalus membranaceus
ORIGIN
China, Taiwan, Korea
PART OF PLANT USED
Roots
DESCRIPTION
Chinese Astragalus, or "Huang Ch'i" belongs to the group of Vetches and the family of peas. The plant is known as the milk vetch. Astragalus is a mild restorative and preventive plant.
HISTORICAL USES
Oriental tonic and health promoter
Increase resistance to disease and infections
Restore depressed immunity
To treat peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, ischemia
To restore peripheral circulation
For myasthenia gravis
For immune depletion in cancer patients
To boost the immune system in ARC, influenza, and other viral conditions
ACTIVE PROPERTIES/INDICATIONS
Astragalus, one of the most important Oriental tonic and health-promoting medicinal plants, has been classically used in the Orient to strengthen the Wei Ch'i or defensive energy and to "warm" the exterior. Thus Astragalus is widely used to increase resistance to disease and infections, to restore depressed immunity, to treat hepatitis, AIDS, and other viral conditions, and to treat peripheral vascular diseases and restore peripheral circulation. Recent research has revealed possible uses for myasthenia gravis, immune depletion in cancer patients, ARC, influenza and other viral infections, hypertension, and ischemia.
ACTIVE SUBSTANCES
Isoflavones, triterpenoid saponins including astragalosides I to VIII, astramembrannins, and soya-sapogenols, polysaccharides, choline, betaine, kuma-takenin
PHARMACOLOGY/PHYSIOLOGY
Astragalus contains a unique isoflavone, termed 4' hydroxy-3'-methoxyisoflavone 7-sug which has some pharmacological activities on digestion. Other ingredients of Astragalus include the triterpenoid saponins (Astragalosides, astramem-brannins) which are analogous to the animal steroid hormones. Also important in Astragalus are the numerous polysaccharides which have shown in pharmacological experiments to enhance the activity of the immune system, particularly NK and T cell function, and increased interferon production.
TOXICITY, CAUTIONS & CONTRA-INDICATIONS
No known toxicity.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
4 gm./day root or 1 gm/day of extract
PROCESSING
Similar to traditional methods, the roots are sun-dried, graded, and sliced. Water/alcohol extraction at low temperature, followed by drying to create a stable free-flowing powder.
STANDARD
0.5% minimum 4'-Hydroxy-3'-methoxyisoflavone 7-sugs
ANALYSIS STANDARDIZED EXTRACT
| Product: | Astragalus membranaceous root | |
| Type: | Standardized extract | |
| Quality: | Traditional, wild-crafted | |
| Color: | Light, brown powder with good flow characteristics | |
| Flavor: | Sweet with bitter undertones | |
| Standardization: | Min. 0.5% 4'-Hydroxy-3'-methoxyisoflavone 7-sug | |
| pH | 5.7 | |
| Total Ash | 8.38% | |
| Loss on drying: (vacuum at 100-105C for 3 hours) | 7% | |
| Heavy metals: | <20 ppm | |
| Pesticides: | absent | |
| Fungicides: | absent | |
| Microbes: | absent |
SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Chen, K. (1981) Certain progress in the treatment of coronary heart disease with traditional medicinal plants. Amer. J. Chinese Med. (:193-196.
Hikino, H., et al. (1976) Validity of Oriental Medicines. 2. Hypotensive Principle of Astragalus and Hedysarum Roots. Planta Medica 30:297.
Hou, Y. et al. (1981) Effect of Radix Astragali Seu Hedysari on the Interferon System. Chin. Med. J. 94:35-40.
Kitagawa, I., et al. (1983) Saponin and Sapogenin. 35. Chemical Constituents of Astragali radix, the root of Astragalus membranaceous 2, Astragolosides 1,2, and 4, Acetylastragaloside 1, and Isoastragalosides 1 and 2. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 31:698-708.
Kou, W. et al. (1983). Clinical effect of "Yi gi Huo Xue" medicinal herbs in Acute Myocardial Infarction: a randomized controlled study. Chinese J. Integr. Tradit. West. Med. 3:146-148.
Lim, D. Y. (1979) A study on the hypotensive action of Astragali Radix water extract in the rabbit. Yakhak Hoe Chi. 23:69-80.
Mingxing, Sh. et al. (1982) Therapeutic effect of Astragalus in treating chronic active hepatitis and the changes in immune functions. J. of Chinese People's Liberation Army 7:242-4.
Wang, Z.X., et al. (1983) Studies on the chemical constituents of astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous). Chung Tsao Yao 14:97-99.
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