''Astragalus mongholicus'',

synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

including ''Astragalus propinquus'' and ''Astragalus membranaceus'', commonly known as Mongolian milkvetch in English; 'Хунчир' in Mongolian; ''huáng qí'' (), ''běi qí'' () or ''huáng huā huáng qí'' (), in Mongolia, is a flowering plant in the family

Fabaceae The Fabaceae or Leguminosae,International Code of Nomenc ...

. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in

traditional Mongolian medicine Traditional Mongolian medicine developed over many years among the Mongolian people. Mongolian medical practice spread across their empire and became an ingrained part of many other people's medical systems. History The Mongols were part of a w ...

. It is a perennial plant and it is not listed as being threatened.

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.

Herbalism

''A. mongholicus'' is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). ''A. mongholicus'' is a component in Lectranal, a food supplement used in treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis, though there is limited evidence of its effectiveness.

Chemistry

Chemical constituents of the roots (Radix Astragali) include

polysaccharide Polysaccharides (), or polycarbohydrates, are the most abundant carbohydrates found in food. They are long chain polymeric carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages. This carbohydrate can react with wa ...

s and triterpenoids (such as

astragaloside Chemical structure of astragaloside IV Astragalosides are a series of related chemical compounds isolated from '' Astragalus membranaceus''. References Triterpene glycosides Saponins {{organic-compound-stub ...

s), as well as isoflavones (including

kumatakenin Kumatakenin is an O-methylated flavonol. It can be found in ''Astragalus membranaceus ''Astragalus propinquus'' (syn. ''Astragalus membranaceus'', commonly known as Mongolian milkvetch in English; 'Хунчир' in Mongolian; ''huáng qí'' ( ...

calycosin Calycosin is an ''O''-methylated isoflavone. It can be isolated from ''Astragalus membranaceus'' Bge. var. ''mongholicus'' and ''Trifolium pratense'' L. (red clover). Biosynthesis Isoflavone 3′-hydroxylase uses formononetin Formononetin is ...

, and formononetin) and their glycosides and malonates. It contains the saponin

cycloastragenol Cycloastragenol is a triterpenoid isolated from various legume species in the genus ''Astragalus'' that is purported to have telomerase activation activity. A preliminary ''in vitro'' study on human CD4 and CD8 T cells found that 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, none of these constituents have been detected in ''Astragalus mongholicus'' used in

dietary supplement A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement one's diet by taking a pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients either extracted from food sources or that are synthetic in order ...

s and TCM preparations.

Compendial status

''A. mongholicus'' is listed (as ''A. propinquus'') in the following official pharmacopoeia: * Japanese Pharmacopoeia

Notes and references

External links

* * {{Medicinal herbs & fungi mongholicus Flora of China Flora of Kazakhstan Flora of Mongolia Flora of the Russian Far East Flora of Siberia Forages Herbs Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine