Astragalus: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Radix Astragali, Huang Qi
Scientific name(s)
Astragalus propinquus, Astragalus membranaceus, Astragalus mongholicus
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Flavonoids
Polysaccharides
Cycloastragenol
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Allergic rhinitis ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical studies show that taking a specific astragalus root extract containing 40% polysaccharides at 160 mg orally twice daily for 3 to 6 weeks improves symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and itching compared to placebo in adults with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Posologie
Oral: root
320 mg
6 - weeks
Adults
standardized extract
Congestive heart failure ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research suggests that taking 2.25 to 7.5 grams of astragalus orally twice a day for 14 to 30 days, in conjunction with conventional treatment for congestive heart failure, improves heart function, left ventricular ejection fraction, and walking perimeter compared to conventional treatment alone.
Posologie
Oral: root
2.25 - 7.5 g
30 - days
Adults
powder
Type 2 Diabetes ✪✪✪✪✪
A clinical study shows that astragalus, administered as a daily intravenous or oral injection for up to 4 months, modestly improves fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels compared to a control group in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Posologie
Oral: root
40 - 60 g
4 - months
Adults
aqueous decoction
Chronic Kidney Disease ✪✪✪✪✪
Numerous studies have been conducted on humans concerning chronic kidney disease. Some have shown improvements in proteinuria, serum albumin, and hemoglobin. In individuals with diabetic nephropathy, protection of kidney function has been observed. Clinical research shows that using astragalus with conventional treatment can improve creatinine clearance, hemoglobin levels, and serum creatinine levels compared to conventional treatment alone in chronic kidney disease patients.
Posologie
Oral: root
3 - 120 g
1 - month
Adults
powder
Astragalus (a traditional Chinese medicine) for treating chronic kidney disease
Meta-analysis of the clinical value of Astragalus membranaceus in diabetic nephropathy.
Effects of Astragalus injection on renal tubular function in patients with IgA nephropathy
Clinical observation of Astragalus Injection in treatment of renal injury in patients with primary hypertension
Protective effects of astragali injection on tubular in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome
Treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy with the herb Astragalus membranaceus.
Clinical observation on treatment of diabetic nephropathy with compound fructus arctii mixture
Stroke ✪✪✪✪✪
A preclinical study shows that taking astragalus extracts following a stroke improves cognitive and social functioning compared to a placebo. Another study demonstrated that after the oral administration of 3 g astragalus (Astragalus Radix) three times a day (total of 9 g) after the onset of a stroke for 14 days, results in a faster neural recovery with improved functional competence and memory.
Posologie
Oral: root
9 g
2 - weeks
Adults
powder
Lung Cancer ✪✪✪✪✪
Analyses of clinical research results suggest that taking plant-based products containing astragalus may enhance the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy or radiotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Taking plant products containing astragalus appears to reduce the risk of death by 33% at one year, 33% at two years, and 24% at three years compared to controls. However, most studies included in the meta-analyses are of poor quality; hence, further reliable studies are needed to confirm these results.
Posologie
Oral: root
2 g
Adults
powder
Does the course of astragalus-containing Chinese herbal prescriptions and radiotherapy benefit non-small-cell lung cancer treatment: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.
Common Cold ✪✪✪✪✪
The oral administration of an Astragalus extract to 1000 people reduced the incidence or shortened the duration of the common cold. Indeed, an increase in IgA and IgG levels in the nasal secretion of patients was observed.
Posologie
Oral: root
2 g
dry extract
Immune Boosting ✪✪✪✪✪
In a small study, it was demonstrated that 1.23 g Astragalus Membranaceus administered as a mother tincture in two divided doses per day for 7 days activated the immune system (technically, the number of immune cells expressing CD4, CD8, and CD69 increased after 7 days of supplementation, with CD4 and CD8 cells including T cells). The authors conclude that astragalus was more effective than echinacea. Traditionally, astragalus is used in winter viral pathologies and conditions related to decreased immunity.
Posologie
Oral: root
1.23 g
mother tincture
Chemotherapy ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of 19 clinical trials conducted with adults having cervical cancer and receiving chemotherapy shows that the use of Chinese herbal medicines containing astragalus increases tumor response and reduces chemotherapy-related adverse effects, compared to chemotherapy alone. Another meta-analysis of low-quality clinical trials in patients with colorectal cancer shows that oral or intravenous use of traditional Chinese medicine therapies containing astragalus and other ingredients concurrently with conventional chemotherapy reduces the risk of anemia by 51% compared to chemotherapy alone.
Posologie
Oral: root
2 g
powder
[Clinical study on effect of Astragalus in efficacy enhancing and toxicity reducing of chemotherapy in patients of malignant tumor]
Astragalus-Containing Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With Chemotherapy for Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Meta-Analysis of Astragalus-Containing Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined With Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: Efficacy and Safety to Tumor Response
Evidence of Astragalus injection combined platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Diabetic Nephropathy ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of small, low-quality clinical studies involving over 4,700 patients shows that adding intravenous astragalus to routine treatment for 2 to 12 weeks modestly improves blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, urine proteins, urinary albumin, and serum albumin versus routine treatment alone in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Another meta-analysis of preliminary clinical research results suggests that taking products containing astragalus for up to 10 months modestly improves visual acuity and fundus manifestations compared to control in patients with diabetic retinopathy.
Posologie
Oral: root
2 g
powder
Meta-analysis of the clinical value of Astragalus membranaceus in diabetic nephropathy
Astragalus membranaceus (Huang Qi) as adjunctive therapy for diabetic kidney disease: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Diabetic Retinopathy ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of small, low-quality clinical studies involving over 4,700 patients shows that adding intravenous astragalus to routine treatment for 2 to 12 weeks modestly improves blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, urine proteins, urinary albumin, and serum albumin versus routine treatment alone in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Another meta-analysis of preliminary clinical research results suggests that taking products containing astragalus for up to 10 months modestly improves visual acuity and fundus manifestations compared to control in patients with diabetic retinopathy.
Posologie
Oral: root
2 g
powder
Meta-analysis of the clinical value of Astragalus membranaceus in diabetic nephropathy
Astragalus membranaceus (Huang Qi) as adjunctive therapy for diabetic kidney disease: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Traditional Chinese Medicine Injections for Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Gastric Cancer ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of 35 randomized controlled trials involving 2,670 patients with advanced gastric cancer shows that the use of traditional Chinese medicines containing astragalus, intravenously or orally, in association with platinum-based chemotherapy can improve objective response rate, disease control rate, one-year survival rate, and quality of life, and can also reduce the severity of chemotherapy-associated adverse effects compared to chemotherapy alone.
Posologie
Oral: root
2 g
powder
Fatigue ✪✪✪✪✪
A preliminary clinical study conducted in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome shows that taking a 200 ml decoction containing 30 g of astragalus, 30 g of kudzu, 10 g of turmeric with other plants, in two divided doses per day for 3 months, improves fatigue symptoms compared to baseline. Another preliminary clinical study shows that taking 1.5 g of a product containing 66% extracts of astragalus and red sage in a 1:1 ratio twice daily for 4 weeks improves fatigue intensity compared to placebo.
Posologie
Orally: root
2 g
powder
Myelophil, an extract mix of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, ameliorates chronic fatigue: a randomised, double-blind, controlled pilot study
[Effect of lixu jieyu recipe in treating 75 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome]
Database mining and animal experiment-based validation of the efficacy and mechanism of Radix Astragali (Huangqi) and Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Baizhu) as core drugs of Traditional Chinese medicine in cancer-related fatigue
Properties
Immunomodulatory
Astragalus appears to enhance immune response. In lab studies, astragalus has been observed to activate certain types of immune cells, such as B cells and macrophages. Astragalus also increases the production of certain immune substances, like interferon and antibodies IgA and IgG, which help combat infections. Astragalus seems to enhance the activity of natural killer cells and other types of T cells, which are important for disease defense, as shown by a small clinical study conducted on male professional rowers.
Usages associés
Anti-aging
Indolic alkaloids found in trace amounts in the root of astragalus reduce telomere shortening in human embryo fibroblasts by more than 40%. Preserved telomere length means better-repaired and less-damaged DNA during oxidative stress.
Usages associés
The two isomers of HDTIC compounds from Astragali Radix slow down telomere shortening rate via attenuating oxidative stress and increasing DNA repair ability in human fetal lung diploid fibroblast cells
The telomerase activator TA-65 elongates short telomeres and increases health span of adult/old mice without increasing cancer incidence
Nephroprotective
Laboratory research suggests that astragalus can improve renal microvascular lesions by increasing blood flow and enhancing kidney filtration process and endothelial cell function. Astragaloside IV can reduce renal fibrosis (thickening and scarring of renal tissues) by decreasing inflammation, thanks to its action on certain biochemical pathways in the body, both in laboratory studies and in vivo in animals.
Usages associés
Antiviral
Astragalus and its components have shown antiviral properties against several viruses, including those affecting both humans and animals (such as cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, herpes, and certain adenoviruses). Research specifically studied its effect on the Coxsackie B virus, which can cause myocarditis. These studies indicate that astragalus can inhibit this virus's replication and improve the immune cell profile. The antiviral effect of astragalus might be due to both inhibiting virus entry into cells and stimulating the immune response.
Usages associés
[Effect and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus on coxsackie B3 virus RNA in mice]
[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with viral myocarditis]
Anti-inflammatory
In numerous in vitro and in vivo inflammation models, astragalus root extracts and its constituents have shown an anti-inflammatory effect. This effect involves inhibiting the activity of the transcription factor NFκB (nuclear factor-kappa B: a protein of the superfamily of transcription factors involved in immune response and cellular stress response) which controls the expression of genes involved in cellular and molecular inflammatory response.
Usages associés
Antioxidant
Different constituents of astragalus have shown antioxidant properties in vitro and in vivo. Indeed, the isoflavonoids formononetin, calycosin, and a glycosylated derivative, are capable of scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Astragaloside IV reduces the production of free radicals, lipid peroxidation, and increases the antioxidant defenses of liver cells.
Usages associés
Anticancer
In traditional Chinese medicine, astragalus root is used in cancer management. In fact, astragalus extract is capable of increasing lymphocyte percentage. Polysaccharides increase the production of cytokines involved in the anti-tumor response (TNF-α and IFN-γ). Astragaloside IV is also capable of regulating immune cell count.
Usages associés
Hypoglycemic
Astragalus polysaccharides improve muscle insulin sensitivity by partially restoring insulin signaling pathway and aiding the translocation of glucose transporter GLUT-4. Research conducted in humans and laboratories suggests that astragalus may also help protect against the formation of advanced glycation end products, harmful to health.
Usages associés
Cardiovascular
Astragalus flavonoids reduce serum concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and increase HDL cholesterol. Preservation of cardiac function may be linked to the antioxidant effect and better cell survival.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult: 9 g - 30 g
Dosage: - Dry root decoction: 10 to 15 g, up to 30 g per day - Powder: 2 to 10 g per day. Oral doses of astragalus up to 30 g/day have been used without reported adverse effects during 4 months of treatment.
Interactions
Médicaments
Cyclophosphamide: moderate interaction
Research results on the effect of astragalus on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression are contradictory.
Immunosuppressant: moderate interaction
Astragalus seems to stimulate immune function. Theoretically, taking astragalus might decrease the effects of immunosuppressive treatment. Immunosuppressive drugs that may be concerned include azathioprine, cyclosporine, daclizumab, mycophenolate (CellCept), prednisone, and other corticosteroids...
Lithium: moderate interaction
Astragalus may reduce the urinary excretion of lithium, which can increase lithium levels.
Plantes ou autres actifs
Astragalus: strong interaction
Some species of astragalus contain high levels of selenium, and their joint use may cause selenium toxicity.
Precautions
Breastfeeding woman: avoid
Should be avoided due to lack of information on precautions for breastfeeding women.
Autoimmune diseases: use with caution
Theoretically, astragalus might exacerbate certain autoimmune diseases by stimulating disease activity; Consume with caution in patients with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or others.
Contraindications
Pregnant woman: prohibited
Studies suggest that astragaloside, a component of astragalus, has a toxic effect on the mother and her fetus. Do not consume during pregnancy.
Child up to 12 years: prohibited
Contraindicated in children under 12 years.
