Astragalus is a large genus of over 3,000 species[2] of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae and the subfamily Faboideae. It is the largest genus of plants in terms of described species.[3] The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milkvetch (most species), locoweed (in North America, some species)[4] and goat's-thorn (A. gummifer, A. tragacantha). Some pale-flowered vetches (Vicia spp.) are similar in appearance, but they are more vine-like than Astragalus.
Description
Most species in the genus have pinnately compound leaves.[5] There are annual and perennial species. The flowers are formed in clusters in a raceme, each flower typical of the legume family, with three types of petals: banner, wings, and keel. The calyx is tubular or bell-shaped.[6][7]
Astragalus has been used in traditional Chinese medicine over centuries to treat various disorders, but there is no high-quality evidence that it is effective or safe for any medical purpose.[11][12]
Phytochemicals and supplements
Extracts of astragalus root include diverse phytochemicals, such as saponins and isoflavoneflavonoids, which are purported in traditional practices to increase lactation in nursing mothers.[13] There is no valid clinical evidence to indicate such use is effective or safe for the mother or infant.[13]Dietary supplement products containing astragalus extracts may not have been adequately tested for efficacy, safety, purity or consistency.[13] The root extracts of astragalus may be used in soups, teas or sold in capsules.[11]
Some astragalus species can be toxic, such as those found in the United States containing the neurotoxinswainsonine, which causes "locoweed" poisoning in animals.[11] Some astragalus species may contain high levels of selenium, possibly causing toxicity.[11]
Ornamental use
Several species, including A. alpinus (bluish-purple flowers), A. hypoglottis (purple flowers), and A. lotoides, are grown as ornamental plants in gardens.[citation needed]
Notes
^ a bThis may actually be a valid genus.
References
^"Astragalus L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^"Astragalus L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
^Frodin, David G. (2004). "History and Concepts of Big Plant Genera". Taxon. 53 (3): 753–76. doi:10.2307/4135449. JSTOR 4135449.
^"Astragalus (Locoweed) flowers". Rootcellar.us. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
^Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 100. ISBN 0878422803. OCLC 25708726.
^ a b c d e f g"Astragalus". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
^ a b c d"Astragalus". Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health. 3 December 2018. PMID 30000951.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astragalus.
Astragalus – Genus of vascular plants
Astragalus – Clinical summary and constituents, MSKCC Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center