Astragalus mongholicus
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Astragalus mongholicus, commonly known as Mongolian milkvetch in English;[2] 'Хунчир' in Mongolian; huángqí (Chinese: 黃芪), běiqí (Chinese: 北芪) or huánghuā huángqí (Chinese: 黃花黃耆),[3] in Mongolia, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Mongolian medicine.[4] It is a perennial plant and it is not listed as being threatened.[5]
| Astragalus mongholicus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Astragalus |
| Species: | A. mongholicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Astragalus mongholicus Bunge[1] | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Distribution
A. mongholicus is widespread in temperate Asia, being found in Kazakhstan, from Siberia to the Russian Far East, in Mongolia, and in west and north China.[1]
Herbalism
A. mongholicus is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).[6] A. mongholicus is a component in Lectranal, a food supplement used in treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis,[7] though there is limited evidence of its effectiveness.[8]
Chemistry
Chemical constituents of the roots (Radix Astragali) include polysaccharides and triterpenoids (such as astragalosides),[9] as well as isoflavones (including kumatakenin, calycosin, and formononetin) and their glycosides and malonates.[10] It contains the saponin cycloastragenol.
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,[11] none of these constituents have been detected in Astragalus mongholicus used in dietary supplements and TCM preparations.[12]
Compendial status
A. mongholicus is listed (as A. propinquus) in the following official pharmacopoeia:
- Japanese Pharmacopoeia[13]