- Astragalus propinquus
Taxobox
name = "Astragalus propinquus"
image_width = 250px
image_caption =
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo =Fabales
familia =Fabaceae
subfamilia =Faboideae
genus = "Astragalus "
species = "A. propinquus"
binomial = "Astragalus propinquus"
binomial_authority =Schischkin cite web|url=http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?version~10.01&LegumeWeb&tno~16104 |title=Astragalus propinquus |accessdate=2008-01-03 |date=2005-11-01 |work=ILDIS LegumeWeb |publisher=International Legume Database & Information Service ]
synonyms=
*"Astragalus membranaceus" (Fisch.) Bunge
*"Astragalus membranaceus" (Fisch.) Bunge var. "mongholicus" (Bunge)P.K.Hsiao
*"Astragalus propinquus" Schischkin var. "glabra" Vydr.
*"Phaca membranacea" Fisch.""Astragalus propinquus" (syn. "Astragalus membranaceus") also known as "huáng qí" (zh-st|s=|t=) or "běi qí" (zh-t|t=), [cite web|url=http://alternativehealing.org/huang_qi.htm |title=Huang qi, Complementary and Alternative Healing University |accessdate=2008-02-19 ] is a
flowering plant in the familyFabaceae . It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used intraditional Chinese medicine .cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Astragalus+membranaceus |title=Astragalus membranaceus - Plants For A Future database report |accessdate=2008-02-21 |date=June 2004 |publisher=Plants For A Future ] It is aperennial plant and it is not listed as being threatened.Uses
"A. propinquus" is used in
traditional Chinese medicine , where it is used to speed healing and treatdiabetes . [cite web|url=http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/astragalus-000223.htm |title=Astragalus |accessdate=2008-02-21 |date=2007 |publisher=University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) ] In western herbal medicine, "Astragalus" is primarily considered a tonic for enhancing metabolism and digestion and is consumed as a tea or soup made from the (usually dried) roots of the plant, often in combination with other medicinal herbs. It is also traditionally used to strengthen theimmune system and in the healing of wounds and injuries. [ [http://www.gaiagarden.ca/products/astragalus/ Gaia Garden Herbals | Products : Astragalus ] ]"A. propinquus" has been asserted to be a tonic that can improve the functioning of the
lung s,adrenal gland s and thegastrointestinal tract , increasemetabolism , sweating, promote healing and reduce fatigue. [cite book | author = Phyllis Balch, C.N.C. | date = 2006 | title = Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food | publisher = Avery Penguin Putnam | isbn=9781583332368]There is a report in the Journal of
Ethnopharmacology that "Astragalus membranaceus" can show "immunomodulating and immunorestorative effects." [cite journal |author=Cho WC, Leung KN |title=In vitro and in vivo immunomodulating and immunorestorative effects of Astragalus membranaceus |journal=J Ethnopharmacol |volume=113 |issue=1 |pages=132–41 |year=2007 |month=Aug |pmid=17611061 |doi=10.1016/j.jep.2007.05.020 |url=] It has been shown to increase the production ofinterferon and to activateimmune cell s such asmacrophages .The
biotech companyGeron Corporation has determined that a molecule from "Astragalus propinquus" root called TA-65 is atelomerase activator. According to PRNewswire, TA Sciences, has a license from Geron to sell TA-65 and is now selling it as a neutraceutical anti-aging product at their TA Sciences Center in New York City. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=New Product Scientifically Battles Aging at the Cellular Level | date=2003-04-09 | publisher=PR Newswire Association LLC. | url =http://sev.prnewswire.com/biotechnology/20070409/NYM08109042007-1.html | work =PR Newswire News and Information | pages =1 | accessdate = 2008-01-03 | language = ]Related species
The natural gum
tragacanth , which is used inpharmaceutical s andtextile s, is obtained from "Astragalus tragacanthus". [cite news | first=H.S. | last=Gentry | coauthors= M.Mittleman, and P.R. McCrohan | title=The natural gum tragacanth, which is used in pharmaceuticals and textiles, is obtained from Astragalus tragacanthus | date=1990 | publisher=Purdue University | url =http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1990/v1-252.html | work =Purdue University Crop Index | pages =1 | accessdate = 2008-01-03 | language = ] It has been termed as a renaladaptogen .Fact|date=December 2007ee also
*Chinese herbology
References
External links
* [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Astragalus+membranaceus "Astragalus membranaceus" Plants for a Future Database]
* [http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=140 "Astragalus membranaceus" Chemical Compounds (Dr. Duke's Databases)]
* [http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb26.htm Abstracts Described and Linked fromNIH Regarding "Astragalus membranaceus"]
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