Omnia SanaCommon names in 18 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 6 pharmacological actions, 10 traditional / indicated uses, with 19 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Erect perennial herb with a long, fibrous, pale yellow taproot. The leaves are pinnately compound with numerous small, oval leaflets, giving a soft, ferny appearance. Small, pale yellow, pea-like flowers are borne in loose axillary clusters (racemes), followed by membranous, inflated seed pods that give the species its name.[5]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to the grasslands, sunny slopes and forest margins of northern and north-eastern China, Mongolia and parts of Korea; widely cultivated as a medicinal crop across East Asia.[5]
Harvesting
The root is dug from plants at least four years old, typically in spring or autumn, then cleaned and dried, often sliced into the characteristic pale, fibrous 'coin' slices used in traditional decoctions.[5]
Key Constituents
Pharmacological Actions
Astragalus membranaceus and its constituents (astragaloside IV, cycloastragenol, Astragalus polysaccharide) inhibit tumour growth, invasion and metastasis and enhance antitumour immunity across lung, colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers (preclinical, incl. in vivo).
Immune support / immunomodulation (activates macrophages, NK cells, T and B lymphocytes)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Astragalus membranaceus protects against gastrointestinal cancers; astragaloside IV inhibits lung cancer metastasis via macrophage repolarization, cycloastragenol boosts CD8+ T-cell antitumour immunity (with anti-PD-1 synergy), and Astragalus polysaccharide suppresses inflammation-induced colorectal cancer (preclinical).
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
Supports resistance to colds and respiratory infection (immune)
Adaptogenic tonic for fatigue and low vitality (traditional 'Qi' tonic)
Immune support / immunomodulation (activates macrophages, NK cells, T and B lymphocytes); Supports resistance to colds and respiratory infection (immune)
Supports resistance to colds and respiratory infection (immune)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Renoprotective (kidney support) - as an adjunct in chronic kidney disease, reduced proteinuria and raised haemoglobin and serum albumin across trials (Cochrane review; study quality low)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from adaptogen action
Traditional Use & History
Preparations
Dosage
The WHO monograph on Radix Astragali gives doses of 3-9 g per day. Traditional Chinese medicine references often cite a considerably higher 9-30 g of dried root per day; WHO's figure is the conservative regulatory-tier one and is stated here in preference. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Clinical studies commonly use extracts providing the equivalent of several grams of dried root daily, in divided doses. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Astragalus stimulates immune activity; on theoretical grounds it should be used cautiously in autoimmune disease and with immunosuppressant medicines (for example after organ transplant) - discuss with a clinician.
Generally well tolerated; high-quality long-term human safety and toxicity data remain limited.
Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established; avoid medicinal doses.
Harvest Readiness
[14]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Xu, B., Huang, J.P., Peng, G., Cao, W., Liu, Z. et al (2024) 'Total biosynthesis of the medicinal triterpenoid saponin astragalosides', Nature Plants, 10(11), pp. 1826-1837. doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01827-4 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01827-4 - Auyeung, K.K., Han, Q.B. and Ko, J.K (2016) 'Astragalus membranaceus: A Review of its Protection Against Inflammation and Gastrointestinal Cancers', The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 44(1), pp. 1-22. doi:10.1142/S0192415X16500014 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X16500014 - Zhang, Y., Ji, W., Qin, H., Chen, Z., Zhou, Y. et al (2024) 'Astragalus polysaccharides alleviate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by restoring SCFA production and regulating Th17/Treg cell homeostasis in a microbiota-dependent manner', Carbohydrate Polymers, 349, pp. 122829. doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122829 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122829 - Fu, J., Wang, Z., Huang, L., Zheng, S., Wang, D., Chen, S., Zhang, H. and Yang, S (2014) 'Review of the botanical characteristics, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi)', Phytotherapy Research, 28(9), pp. 1275-1283. doi:10.1002/ptr.5188 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5188 - Zhang, J., Wu, C., Gao, L., Du, G. and Qin, X (2019) 'Astragaloside IV derived from Astragalus membranaceus: A research review on the pharmacological effects', Advances in Pharmacology. doi:10.1016/bs.apha.2019.08.002 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apha.2019.08.002 - Dong, M., Li, J., Yang, D., Li, M. and Wei, J (2023) 'Biosynthesis and pharmacological activities of flavonoids, triterpene saponins and polysaccharides derived from Astragalus membranaceus', Molecules, 28(13), pp. 5018. doi:10.3390/molecules28135018 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135018 - Chen, G., Jiang, N., Zheng, J., Hu, H., Yang, H., Lin, A., Hu, B. and Liu, H (2023) 'Structural characterization and anti-inflammatory activity of polysaccharides from Astragalus membranaceus', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 241, pp. 124386. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124386 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124386 - Zheng, Q., Zhuang, Z., Wang, Z., Deng, L., Jin, W., Huang, Z., Zheng, G. and Wang, Y (2020) 'Clinical and preclinical systematic review of Astragalus membranaceus for viral myocarditis', Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020, pp. 1560353. doi:10.1155/2020/1560353 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1560353 - Dai, Y., Wang, Y., Kang, Q., Wu, Y., Liu, Y., Su, Y., Wang, X., Xiu, M. and He, J (2024) 'The protective effect and bioactive compounds of Astragalus membranaceus against neurodegenerative disorders via alleviating oxidative stress in Drosophila', FASEB Journal, 38(13), pp. e23727. doi:10.1096/fj.202400390R Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202400390R - Xu, L., Xu, X., Hou, X., Wang, F., Gao, S. and Zhang, H (2019) 'Adjuvant therapy with Astragalus membranaceus for post-stroke fatigue: a systematic review', Metabolic Brain Disease, 35(1), pp. 83-93. doi:10.1007/s11011-019-00483-4 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-019-00483-4 - Li, C.X., Liu, Y., Zhang, Y.Z., Li, J.C. and Lai, J (2022) 'Astragalus polysaccharide: a review of its immunomodulatory effect', Archives of Pharmacal Research. doi:10.1007/s12272-022-01393-3 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-022-01393-3 - Jin, M., Zhao, K., Huang, Q. and Shang, P (2014) 'Structural features and biological activities of the polysaccharides from Astragalus membranaceus', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 64, pp. 257-266. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2013.12.002 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2013.12.002 - Liu, Y. and Lv, W (2019) 'Research progress in Astragalus membranaceus and its active components on immune responses in liver fibrosis', Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 26(10), pp. 794-800. doi:10.1007/s11655-019-3039-1 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-3039-1 - Fern, Ken 'Astragalus mongholicus (syn. membranaceus, Huang Qi) — Useful Temperate Plants'. Available at: https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Astragalus+mongholicus Traditional / reference
https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Astragalus+mongholicus - World Health Organization (1999) 'Radix Astragali'. Available at: https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 Traditional / reference
https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 - Xu, F. and Cui, W.-Q. and Wei, Y. and Cui, J. and Qiu, J. and Hu, L.-L. and Gong, W.-Y. and Dong, J.-C. and Liu, B.-J (2018) 'Astragaloside IV inhibits lung cancer progression and metastasis by modulating macrophage polarization through AMPK signaling', Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, 37(1), pp. 207. doi:10.1186/s13046-018-0878-0 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-018-0878-0 - Deng, G. and Zhou, L. and Wang, B. and Sun, X. and Zhang, Q. and Chen, H. and Wan, N. and Ye, H. and Wu, X. and Sun, D. and Sun, Y. and Cheng, H (2022) 'Targeting cathepsin B by cycloastragenol enhances antitumor immunity of CD8 T cells via inhibiting MHC-I degradation', Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 10(10), pp. e004874. doi:10.1136/jitc-2022-004874 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2022-004874 - Li, Q. and Zhang, C. and Xu, G. and Shang, X. and Nan, X. and Li, Y. and Liu, J. and Hong, Y. and Wang, Q. and Peng, G (2024) 'Astragalus polysaccharide ameliorates CD8 T cell dysfunction through STAT3/Gal-3/LAG3 pathway in inflammation-induced colorectal cancer', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 171, pp. 116172. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116172 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116172 - Zhang, H.W., Lin, Z.X., Xu, C., Leung, C. and Chan, L.S (2014) 'Astragalus (a traditional Chinese medicine) for treating chronic kidney disease', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008369.pub2 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008369.pub2
Selected studies & references
All 17 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.