Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Chinese Herbs

Friday, 15 November 2013

Chinese Herbs – Huang (Bei) qi (Radix astragali)

Huang Qi or Bei Qi is also known as Astragalus root. The sweet herb has been used as diuretic agent and to lower blood pressure, increase blood pressure, lessens proteinuria, improve endurance, protect liver function, regulate blood sugar, etc. as it tonifies Qi, raises Yang, strengthens the Defensive-Qi and the Exterior, expels toxins, etc. by enhancing the functions of lung and spleen channels.
Ingredients
1. Astragaloside I,
2. Astragaloside II,
3. Daucosterol,
3. Beta-sitosterol,
4. Palmitic acid
5. Astragalus saponin A,B,C
6. Astramenbrangenin
7. Kumatakenin,
8. Choline,
9. Betaine,
10. Folic acid
11. Calyxosin,
12. Formononetin,
13. Cycloastragenol,
14. Astragaloside I,II,III,IV and
15. Antibacterial ingredient,
16. L-3-hydroxy-9-methoxpterocarpan
17. Etc.
Health Benefits
1. Skin lightening
Methanol extract of Astragalus membranaceus showed inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase, a key enzyme for melanin biosynthesis, and hyperpigmentation disorders are associated with abnormal accumulation of melanin pigments, according to the study of “Inhibitory effects of calycosin isolated from the root of Astragalus membranaceus on melanin biosynthesis” by Kim JH, Kim MR, Lee ES, Lee CH.(1)
2. Diabetic nephropathy
Tangshen Recipe (TR), including the ingredient of astragalus has showed similar favorable effect to Western medicine in treatment of diabetic nephropathy. It could improve in vivo hypomethylation and oxidative stress, according to the study of “[Effects of tangshen recipe on the homocysteine metabolism of patients with diabetic nephropathy].[Article in Chinese]” by Jiang ZT, Liang QL, Wang YM.(2)

3. Atherosclerosis
A herbal extract of Radix Astragali, Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii, namely SR10, has inhibited erythrocyte hemolysis with IC50 value at 0.25 mg/ml and significantly prolonged low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro. SR10 attenuated platelet derived growth factor-BB-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by promoting cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase as well as inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell migration, according to the study of “Suppression of low-density lipoprotein oxidation, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration by a herbal extract of Radix Astragali, Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii” by Chan JY, Koon JC, Leung PC, Che CT, Fung KP.(3) 4. Prostate cancer
PC(ProstaCaid) containing astragalus root, has shown the ability of suppressing metastatic behavior of PC-3 by the inhibition of cell adhesion, cell migration and cell invasion, which was associated with the down-regulation of expression of CAV1, IGF2, NR2F1, and PLAU genes and secretion of the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) from PC-3 cells. In conclusion, the dietary supplement PC is a promising natural complex with the potency to inhibit invasive human prostate cancer, according to the study of “Suppression of growth and invasive behavior of human prostate cancer cells by ProstaCaid™: mechanism of activity” by Jiang J, Eliaz I, Sliva D.(4)
5. Increases health span
A small-molecule activator of telomerase (TA-65) purified from the root of Astragalus membranaceusdietary supplementation in female mice leads to an improvement of certain health-span indicators including glucose tolerance, osteoporosis and skin fitness, without significantly increasing global cancer incidence, according to the study of “The telomerase activator TA-65 elongates short telomeres and increases health span of adult/old mice without increasing cancer incidence” by de Jesus BB, Schneeberger K, Vera E, Tejera A, Harley CB, Blasco MA.(5)
6. Wound healing
Four chief saponins of Astragalus species [cycloastragenol (CA), astragaloside IV (AG), cyclocephaloside I (CCI) and cyclocanthoside E (CCE)] has found to increase both fibroblast proliferation and migration, but the effects were much superior for CA at 1 ng/ml concentration. Among the compounds, based on the histological findings, 5% CA preparation was found to be the most remarkable in vivo wound healing agent showing greater cell density, more regularly organized dermis and more newly formed blood vessels, according to the study of “In vitro growth stimulatory and in vivo wound healing studies on cycloartane-type saponins of Astragalus genus” by Sevimli-Gür C, Onbaşılar I, Atilla P, Genç R, Cakar N, Deliloğlu-Gürhan I, Bedir E.(6)
7. Rheumatoid arthritis
Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) has reduced multiple indices of arthritis in rats with (adjuvant-induced arthritis)AA. by reducing cell accumulation, swelling and arthritic index, according to the study of “Therapeutic effects of astragalus polysaccharides on inflammation and synovial apoptosis in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis” byJiang JB, Qiu JD, Yang LH, He JP, Smith GW, Li HQ.(7)
8. Chronic asthma
Astragaloside IV (AST), the main active constituent of Radix Astragali has relieved the airway hyperresponsiveness sharply accompanied by the reduction of collagen deposition and mucus production, meanwhile the inflammatory cells were decreased but the IFN-gamma level increased in BALF., according to the study of “Effects of astragaloside IV on IFN-gamma level and prolonged airway dysfunction in a murine model of chronic asthma” by Yuan X, Sun S, Wang S, Sun Y.(8)
9. Allergic rhinitis
Astragalus membranaceus (AM), active component in the herbal and mineral complex (HMC) has significantly decreased the intensity of rhinorrhea and 4 main symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), according to the study of “Efficacy and safety of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis” by Matkovic Z, Zivkovic V, Korica M, Plavec D, Pecanic S, Tudoric N.(9)
10. Etc.
Side effects
1. Some types of Huang (Bei) qi are toxic
2. Do not use Huang qi if you are pregnant or breast feeding without consulting with related field specialist.
3. Overdoes may cause common symptoms such as nausea, bloating and upset stomach, diarrhea, etc.
4. Etc.