Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Scientific name Astragalus propinquus Rank Species | Order Fabales Genus Astragalus Higher classification Milkvetch | |
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Similar Red sage, Siberian Ginseng, Asian Ginseng, Jujube, Goji | ||
Astragalus propinquus (syn. Astragalus membranaceus, commonly known as Mongolian milkvetch in English and as huáng qí (Chinese: 黄芪), běi qí (Chinese: 北芪) or huáng huā huáng qí (Chinese: 黄花黄耆), in Chinese, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is a perennial plant and it is not listed as being threatened.
Contents
Herbalism
A. propinquus is used in traditional Chinese medicine for healing and for diabetes.
Related species
The natural gum tragacanth, which is used in pharmaceuticals and textiles, is obtained from Astragalus tragacanthus.
Medical
A. propinquus is an component in Lectranal, a food supplement used in treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Chemistry
An extract of A. propinquus called TA-65 may activate telomerase, extending the lengths of the shortest telomeres which protect the terminal DNA at the ends of all chromosomes. It contains the saponin cycloastragenol. Constituents of the roots (Radix Astragali) include polysaccharides, triterpenoids (astragalosides) as well as isoflavones (including kumatakenin, calycosin and formononetin) along with their glycosides and malonates.
Toxicology
While several other species of Astragalus are known to cause severe poisonings in livestock due to indolizine alkaloids, aliphatic nitro compounds, and accumulated selenium, none of these constituents have been detected in the medicinal species Astragalus membranaceus used in dietary supplements and TCM preparations.
Compendial status
A. propinquus is listed in the following official Pharmacopeia:
