Astragalus: the medicinal plant with multiple properties and benefits

Alfredo Valdés 7 min. of reading Plants Leave a comment

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is a plant native to the northern regions of China, Mongolia and Korea.

Its roots are widely used as a phytotherapic remedy, as the plant is one of the 50 essential herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called Huang-Qi because, as phytotherapists used to say: “It is used for Qi imbalances”.

Its traditional use is:

Depurative, helping liver and biliary metabolism;
Energetic, can be used as a physical and mental tonic; and
Curative, at intestinal and respiratory level, for problems associated with the colon and lungs.

From its traditional use to the present day, a large number of studies have been carried out to determine which of these properties are significant in humans, and which components of the plant are most linked to these effects.

Astragalus root possesses many characteristic compounds to which the studied effects of the plant have been attributed, some of the most identifiable are:

Astragalosides (I – VII), a type of saponins specific to astragalus root.
Isoastragalosides, derived from the above.
Astragalin, a polysaccharide with bioactive properties.

In addition, it has vitamin B3, choline, GABA, and other recognisable nutrients.

Among all the characteristic compounds of astragalus, Astragaloside IV is the most important as it seems to be responsible for most of the positive effects of astragalus.

Astragaloside IV is present in a concentration of approximately 1% of the weight of the root, but in food supplements, which is the most effective way of using astragalus, it can be standardised to higher concentrations.

Medicinal properties and benefits of astragalus

Astragalus has many properties as mentioned above, some of the most studied by the modern scientific community, and not limited to anecdotal reports from traditional Chinese medicine, are:

It strengthens the immune system

Astragalus is able to optimise the immune response in many ways.

Firstly, it is able to stimulate the activity and phagocytic capacity of immune system cells such as macrophages, allowing our body to respond more quickly and forcefully in the event of an external attack by a biological agent (such as the flu virus in winter).

However, astragalus has the ability to dampen the pro-inflammatory response of some of our immune system cells when there is no triggering agent, thus helping to make the immune system healthier when it does not need to be actively working to cope with disease.

Astragalus is able to support the proliferation of important cells of our immune system such as T-cells, and to enhance the expression of immune factors in our body, reinforcing the adaptive immune system we possess that actively protects us from all biological hazards in the environment.

It increases energy

Astragalus influences many mechanisms that mediate the processes of autophagy (cellular recycling) and oxidation of cellular structures (anti-oxidation, to be more precise).

It is able to help improve the biosynthesis of endogenous structures, and to optimise energy production by the body by helping to channel the balance between activation of the AMPK and mTOR metabolic pathways.
Through systems that cope with exposure to radical oxygen species (so-called free radicals) in the mitochondria, it helps the body to be able to improve the production and use of nutrients for energy.

This is not an energetic effect on a sporting level like carbohydrates can provide, but an energetic effect on a day-to-day basis, at the level of optimising the energy flow from a physiological perspective, which can have a significant relevance in sick people or in our elderly.

It prevents allergies

There is clinical evidence that the administration of astragalus is able to tackle the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, through its immune protection mechanisms.

Users who used astragalus supplements in the study by Matkovic et al (2009) reported less rhinorrhoea, sneezing and itchy nose than those who received placebo.

Their symptoms were reduced and perceived quality of life increased in both the 3-week and 6-week assessments of supplementation.

Anti-aging

The most important effect of astragalus is its anti-ageing property.

Thanks to the antioxidant effects of the root’s bioactive compounds, mitochondrial health, which is closely linked to ageing and its quality, is improved, allowing the energy systems of adults and older people to be less affected by the passage of time.

Furthermore, through genomic mechanisms, astragalosides from astragalus are able to cope with the shortening of telomeres, the nucleotide-terminal region of chromosomal DNA, the shortening of which is an inherent, inevitable process closely associated with age.

How to cope with its shortening is currently one of the fields of research in which most resources are being invested as it may be the source of eternal youth if we can find out how to stop it.

How to take astragalus root?

HSN tells you everything you need to know to make the best use of astragalus.

How long should astragalus be taken for?

Based on current data, there is no evidence that long-term use of astragalus root has any negative health effects, so astragalus use can be continued for as long as desired as long as the doses used remain within the ranges studied.

Daily dose

The most recommended amount of astragalus root is still based on the recommendations of traditional Chinese medicine; it is on this basis that current research has verified the efficacy and safety of the plant’s roots.

The amount of root as such, which has traditionally been used, is around 10-60g per day.

When it comes to the most common form of use, which is in food supplements, the amount of IV astragaloside is an important consideration, and daily doses of 5-10mg are the most recommended.
It is recommended for use with food, and the time of day it is used is not an important factor.

Contraindications

Astragalus is a very safe plant, not considered to have adverse effects at even high doses, nor is it considered a compound with safety concerns for long-term use.

There have been isolated reports of allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, which have resolved favourably with the usual treatment of a food allergy; and its safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been rigorously evaluated, so HSN recommends that you consult your doctor before using astragalus if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

For everyone else, astragalus is a safe and effective traditional plant!

Bibliographic references

Auyeung, K. K., Han, Q. Bin, & Ko, J. K. (2016). Astragalus membranaceus: A Review of its Protection Against Inflammation and Gastrointestinal Cancers. American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 44(1), 1–22.
Bing, P., Zhou, W., & Tan, S. (2022). Study on the Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharide in Treating Pulmonary Fibrosis Based on “Drug-Target-Pathway” Network. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 865065.
Matkovic, Z., Zivkovic, V., Korica, M., Plavec, D., Pecanic, S., & Tudoric, N. (2010). Efficacy and safety of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Phytotherapy Research, 24(2), 175–181.
Shan, H., Zheng, X., & Li, M. (2019). The effects of Astragalus Membranaceus active extracts on autophagy-related diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(8).
Zheng, Y., Ren, W., Zhang, L., Zhang, Y., Liu, D., & Liu, Y. (2020). A Review of the Pharmacological Action of Astragalus Polysaccharide. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 349.

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