Astragalus - wikipedia Astragalus This article is about the plant genus. For the ankle bone, see talus bone. Astragalus A. lentiginosus Scientific classification Kingdom : Plantae Clade : Angiosperms Clade : Eudicots Clade : Rosids Order : Fabales Family : Fabaceae Subfamily : Faboideae Tribe : Galegeae Subtribe : Astragalinae Genus : Astragalus L. Type species Astragalus onobrychis L. Synonyms Acanthophaca Nevski Aragallus Neck. ex Greene Astenolobium Nevski Astracantha Podlech Atelophragma Rydb. Barnebyella Podlech Batidophaca Rydb. Biserrula L. Brachyphragma Rydb. Cnemidophacos Rydb. Contortuplicata Medik. Cryptorrhynchus Nevski Ctenophyllum Rydb. Cystium Steven Didymopelta Regel & Schmalh. Diholcos Rydb. Diplotheca Hochst. Erophaca Boiss. Geoprumnon Rydb. Gynophoraria Rydb. Hamosa Medik. Hedyphylla Steven Hesperastragalus A. Heller Hesperonix Rydb. Holcophacos Rydb. Homalobus Nutt. Jonesiella Rydb. Kentrophyta Nutt. Kiapasia Woronow ex Grossh. Lonchophaca Rydb. Microphacos Rydb. Myctirophora Nevski Mystirophora Nevski Neodielsia Harms Oedicephalus Nevski Onix Medik. Orophaca ( Torr. & A. Gray ) Britton Oxyglottis ( Bunge ) Nevski Phaca L. Phacomene Rydb. Phacopsis Rydb. Phyllolobium Fisch. ex Spreng. Pisophaca Rydb. Podlechiella Maassoumi & Kaz. Osaloo Poecilocarpus Nevski Pterophacos Rydb. Sewerzowia Regel & Schmalh. Thium Steud. Tragacantha Mill. Xylophacos Rydb. Astragalus hamosus - MHNT Astragalus is a large genus of about 4,200 species 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. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milkvetch ( most species ), locoweed ( in North America, some species ) and goat 's - thorn ( A. gummifer, A. tragacanthus ). Some pale - flowered vetches are similar in appearance, but vetches are more vine - like. Contents 1 Ecology 2 Traditional uses 3 Research 4 Supplement use 5 Side effects and toxicology 6 Ornamental use 7 Selected species 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 External links Ecology Astragalus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including many case - bearing moths of the genus Coleophora : C. cartilaginella, C. colutella, C. euryaula, and C. onobrychiella feed exclusively on Astragalus, C. astragalella and C. gallipennella feed exclusively on the species Astragalus glycyphyllos, and C. hippodromica is limited to Astragalus gombo. Traditional uses The natural gum tragacanth is made from several species of Astragalus occurring in the Middle East, including A. adscendens, A. gummifer, A. brachycalyx, and A. tragacanthus. Also Astragalus propinquus ( syn. A. membranaceus ) has a history of use as a herbal medicine used in systems of traditional Chinese medicine and Persian medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine A. membranaceus has been used to reinforce qi and strengthen the superficial resistance, and promote the discharge of pus and the growth of new tissue. Research Biotechnology firms are working on deriving a telomerase activator from Astragalus. The chemical constituent cycloastragenol ( also called TAT2 ) is being studied to help combat HIV, as well as infections associated with chronic diseases or aging, the National Institutes of Health states : `` The evidence for using astragalus for any health condition is limited. High - quality clinical trials ( studies in people ) are generally lacking. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that astragalus, either alone or in combination with other herbs, may have potential benefits for the immune system, heart, and liver, and as an adjunctive therapy for cancer ''. Research at the UCLA AIDS Institute focused on the function of cycloastragenol in the aging process of immune cells, and its effects on the cells ' response to viral infections. It appears to increase the production of telomerase, an enzyme that mediates the replacement of short bits of DNA known as telomeres, which play a key role in cell replication, including in cancer processes. Supplement use Extracts of Astragalus propinquus ( syn. A. membranaceus ) are marketed as life - prolonging extracts for human use. A proprietary extract of the dried root of A. membranaceus, called TA - 65, `` was associated with a significant age - reversal effect in the immune system, in that it led to declines in the percentage of senescent cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells after six to twelve months of use ''. There are mixed data regarding Astragalus, its effects on telomerase, and cancer. For example, although 80 % of cancer cells utilize telomerase for their proliferation -- a factor that might theoretically be exacerbated by Astragalus -- the shortening of telomeres ( resulting from such factors as stress and aging and possible contributors to malignancy ), might also be mitigated by Astragalus. Thus, short telomeres result in chromosome instability, and the potential for telomere lengthening as a protection against cancer is possible. Additionally, scientists recently reported that cancer cells may proliferate precisely because of the lack of differentiation occurring via damaged or shortened telomere length. They propose that `` forced '' elongation of telomeres promotes the differentiation of cancer cells, probably reducing malignancy, which is strongly associated with a loss of cell differentiation. Side effects and toxicology Astragalus may interact with medications that suppress the immune system, such as cyclophosphamide. It may also affect blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Some Astragalus species can be toxic. For example, several species native to North America contain the alkaloid swainsonine, which may cause `` locoism '' in livestock. The toxicity of Astragalus taxa varies. Ornamental use Several species, including A. alpinus ( bluish - purple flowers ), A. hypoglottis ( purple flowers ), and A. lotoides, are grown as ornamental plants in gardens. Selected species Main article : List of Astragalus species Astragalus acutirostris -- sharpkeel milkvetch Astragalus agnicidus -- Humboldt County milkvetch Astragalus agrestis -- field milkvetch, purple milkvetch, cock 's - head Astragalus albens -- Cushenbury milkvetch Astragalus alpinus -- alpine milkvetch, mountain locoweed Astragalus amphioxys -- crescent milkvetch Astragalus ampullarioides -- Shivwits milkvetch Astragalus andersonii -- Anderson 's milkvetch Astragalus anisus Astragalus annularis Astragalus anserinus -- Goose Creek milkvetch Astragalus anxius -- troubled milkvetch Astragalus applegatei -- Applegate 's milkvetch Astragalus arrectus -- Palouse milkvetch Astragalus asymmetricus -- San Joaquin milkvetch Astragalus atropilosulus Astragalus austiniae -- Austin 's milkvetch Astragalus australis -- Indian milkvetch Astragalus azizi -- Iranian milkvetch Astragalus barrii -- Barr 's milkvetch Astragalus bernardinus -- San Bernardino milkvetch Astragalus bibullatus -- limestone - glade milkvetch Astragalus bicristatus -- crested milkvetch, two - crested milkvetch Astragalus bidentatus Astragalus bisulcatus -- two - groove milkvetch Astragalus bolanderi -- Bolander 's milkvetch Astragalus brachycalyx Astragalus brauntonii -- Braunton 's milkvetch Astragalus breweri -- Brewer 's milkvetch Astragalus californicus -- California milkvetch Astragalus canadensis -- Canadian milkvetch Astragalus casei -- Case 's milkvetch Astragalus centralpinus Astragalus cicer -- wild lentil, chickpea milkvetch Astragalus cimae -- Cima milkvetch Astragalus clarianus -- Clara Hunt 's milkvetch, Napa milkvetch Astragalus clevelandii -- Cleveland 's milkvetch Astragalus coccineus -- scarlet milkvetch, scarlet locoweed Astragalus congdonii -- Congdon 's milkvetch Astragalus cremnophylax -- Sentry milkvetch Astragalus crotalariae -- Salton milkvetch Astragalus curtipes -- Morro milkvetch Astragalus danicus -- purple milkvetch Astragalus deanei -- Deane 's milkvetch, Dean 's milkvetch Astragalus desereticus -- Deseret milkvetch Astragalus didymocarpus -- two - seeded milkvetch, dwarf white milkvetch, white dwarf locoweed Astragalus douglasii -- Douglas 's milkvetch Astragalus ehrenbergii Astragalus ertterae -- Walker Pass milkvetch Astragalus falcatus Astragalus filipes -- basalt milkvetch Astragalus funereus -- Funeral Mountain milkvetch Astragalus gambelianus -- Gambel 's dwarf milkvetch, dwarf locoweed Astragalus gibbsii -- Gibbs ' milkvetch Astragalus gilmanii -- Gilman 's milkvetch Astragalus glycyphyllos -- wild liquorice, licorice milkvetch Astragalus holmgreniorum -- Holmgren locoweed Astragalus humillimus -- Mancos milkvetch Astragalus hypoxylus -- Huachuca Mountain milkvetch Astragalus inversus -- Susanville milkvetch Astragalus inyoensis -- Inyo milkvetch Astragalus iodanthus -- Humboldt River milkvetch Astragalus iselyi -- Isely 's milkvetch Astragalus jaegerianus -- Lane Mountain milkvetch Astragalus johannis - howellii -- Long Valley milkvetch Astragalus kentrophyta -- spiny milkvetch Astragalus layneae -- widow 's milkvetch Astragalus lemmonii -- Lemmon 's milkvetch Astragalus lentiformis -- lens pod milkvetch Astragalus lentiginosus -- freckled milkvetch, mottled locoweed, speckled locoweed, spotted locoweed Astragalus leptaleus Astragalus leucolobus -- Bear Valley woollypod, Bear Valley milkvetch Astragalus linifolius -- Grand Junction milkvetch Astragalus loanus -- Glenwood milkvetch Astragalus lotoides Astragalus malacus -- shaggy milkvetch Astragalus membranaceus -- huang qi ( 黄芪 / 黃芪 huáng qi ; běi qí 北 芪 ) Astragalus microcymbus -- Skiff milkvetch Astragalus miguelensis -- San Miguel milkvetch Astragalus missouriensis -- Missouri milkvetch Astragalus mohavensis -- Mojave milkvetch Astragalus molybdenus Astragalus monoensis -- Mono milkvetch Astragalus monspessulanus Astragalus montii Astragalus mulfordiae -- Mulford 's milkvetch Astragalus nevinii -- San Clemente Island milkvetch Astragalus newberryi -- Newberry 's milkvetch Astragalus nitidiflorus -- Tallante 's milkvetch Astragalus nutans -- Providence Mountains milkvetch Astragalus nuttallianus -- small - flowered milkvetch Astragalus nuttallii -- Nuttall 's milkvetch Astragalus obscurus -- arcane milkvetch Astragalus onobrychis Astragalus oocarpus -- Descanso milkvetch, San Diego milkvetch Astragalus oophorus -- egg milkvetch Astragalus osterhoutii -- Osterhout milkvetch Astragalus oxyphysus -- Mt. Diablo milkvetch, Diablo locoweed Astragalus pachypus -- thickpod milkvetch Astragalus panamintensis -- panamint milkvetch Astragalus pauperculus -- depauperate milkvetch Astragalus phoenix -- Ash Meadows milkvetch Astragalus platytropis -- broadkeel milkvetch Astragalus pomonensis -- Pomona milkvetch, Pomona locoweed Astragalus proimanthus -- precocious milkvetch Astragalus propinquus -- huang qi ( 黄芪 / 黃芪 huáng qi ; běi qí 北 芪 ) Astragalus proximus Astragalus pseudiodanthus -- Tonopah milkvetch Astragalus pulsiferae -- Ames ' milkvetch Astragalus purshii -- Pursh 's milkvetch, Woollypod milkvetch, woollypod locoweed Astragalus pycnostachyus -- Marsh milkvetch Astragalus rattanii -- Rattan 's milkvetch Astragalus ripleyi Astragalus robbinsii -- Robbins ' milkvetch Astragalus sabulonum -- gravel milkvetch Astragalus scaphoides -- bitterroot milkvetch Astragalus schmolliae -- Schmoll milkvetch Astragalus shevockii -- Shevock 's milkvetch, Little Kern milkvetch Astragalus sinuatus -- Whited 's milkvetch Astragalus subvestitus -- Kern County milkvetch Astragalus tener -- alkali milkvetch Astragalus tennesseensis -- Tennessee milk vetch Astragalus tidestromii -- Tidestrøm 's milkvetch Astragalus tragacantha Astragalus traskiae -- Trask 's milkvetch Astragalus tricarinatus -- triple - ribbed milkvetch Astragalus trichopodus -- Santa Barbara milkvetch, coast locoweed, Southern California locoweed Astragalus tuyehensis from Iran Astragalus tyghensis Astragalus umbraticus -- Bald Mountain milkvetch Astragalus webberi -- Webber 's milkvetch Astragalus wetherillii Astragalus whitneyi -- balloon - pod milkvetch Astragalus zionis -- Zion milkvetch See also List of the largest genera of flowering plants List of species of Astragalus in Latin with Russian translation Notes ^ Jump up to : This may actually be a valid genus. References Jump up ^ Frodin, David G ( 2004 ). `` History and Concepts of Big Plant Genera ''. Taxon. 53 ( 3 ) : 753 -- 76. doi : 10.2307 / 4135449. JSTOR 4135449. Jump up ^ `` Astragalus ( Locoweed ) flowers ''. Rootcellar.us. Retrieved 2013 - 07 - 05. Jump up ^ Astragalus membranaceus - Moench. Plants for a Future. Jump up ^ `` Astragalus brachycalyx Fisch ''. Germplasm Resources Information Network ( GRIN ). Agricultural Research Service ( ARS ), United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ). Retrieved 24 December 2010. Jump up ^ `` Astragalus University of Maryland Medical Center ''. Umm.edu. 2013 - 05 - 07. Retrieved 2013 - 07 - 05. Jump up ^ Zargary, A. Medicinal plants. 5th Edition. Tehran : Tehran University Publications 1990 ; pp. 312 -- 314. Jump up ^ Wang, Limei ; Waltenberger, Birgit ; Pferschy - Wenzig, Eva - Maria ; Blunder, Martina ; Liu, Xin ; Malainer, Clemens ; Blazevic, Tina ; Schwaiger, Stefan ; Rollinger, Judith M ; Heiss, Elke H ; Schuster, Daniela ; Kopp, Brigitte ; Bauer, Rudolf ; Stuppner, Hermann ; Dirsch, Verena M ; Atanasov, Atanas G ( 2014 ). `` Natural product agonists of peroxisome proliferator - activated receptor gamma ( PPARγ ) : A review ''. Biochemical Pharmacology. 92 ( 1 ) : 73 -- 89. doi : 10.1016 / j. bcp. 2014.07. 018. PMC 4212005. PMID 25083916. Jump up ^ `` Herbal chemical helps combat HIV ''. United Press International. January 1, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2011. ^ Jump up to : Astragalus, NCCAM. Jump up ^ Fauce, S. R ; Jamieson, B. D ; Chin, A. C ; Mitsuyasu, R. T ; Parish, S. T ; Ng, H. L ; Ramirez Kitchen, C. M ; Yang, O. O ; Harley, C. B ; Effros, R. B ( 2008 ). `` Telomerase - Based Pharmacologic Enhancement of Antiviral Function of Human CD8+ T Lymphocytes ''. The Journal of Immunology. 181 ( 10 ) : 7400 -- 6. doi : 10.4049 / jimmunol. 181.10. 7400. PMC 2682219. PMID 18981163. Jump up ^ Harley, Calvin B ; Liu, Weimin ; Blasco, Maria ; Vera, Elsa ; Andrews, William H ; Briggs, Laura A ; Raffaele, Joseph M ( 2011 ). `` A Natural Product Telomerase Activator As Part of a Health Maintenance Program ''. Rejuvenation Research. 14 ( 1 ) : 45 -- 56. doi : 10.1089 / rej. 2010.1085. PMC 3045570. PMID 20822369. Jump up ^ Hiyama, Keiko ; Hiyama, Eiso ; Tanimoto, Keiji ; Nishiyama, Masahiko ( 2009 ). `` Role of Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancer ''. Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancer. pp. 171 -- 80. doi : 10.1007 / 978 - 1 - 60327 - 879 - 9_7. ISBN 978 - 1 - 60327 - 306 - 0. Jump up ^ Rios, J. L ; Waterman, P. G ( 1997 ). `` A review of the pharmacology and toxicology of Astragalus ''. Phytotherapy Research. 11 ( 6 ) : 411 -- 8. doi : 10.1002 / ( SICI ) 1099 - 1573 ( 199709 ) 11 : 6 < 411 : : AID - PTR132 > 3.0.CO ; 2 - 6. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Astragalus. Wikispecies has information related to Astragalus Astragalus Astragalus - Compounds, Mechanism of action, and Uses Astragalus - Clinical summary and Constituents, MSKCC Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Large list of species Astragalus at a Glance This fact sheet from the U.S. National Institutes of Health provides basic information about Astragalus -- common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Chinese Milkvetch, Astragalus membranaceus, Kansas State University Taxon identifiers Wikidata : Q157184 Wikispecies : Astragalus APDB : 188389 EoL : 13451 EPPO : 1ASAG FoC : 102978 GBIF : 2933951 GRIN : 1094 iNaturalist : 49370 IPNI : 21741 - 1 IRMNG : 1070691 ITIS : 25392 NBN : NHMSYS0000456260 NCBI : 20400 NZOR : b30c6c14 - 4659 - 4cf9 - 935b - e22b4aef78ff PLANTS : ASTRA POWO : urn : lsid : ipni.org : names : 330028 - 2 Tropicos : 40021672 VASCAN : 872 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Astragalus&oldid=853719577 '' Categories : Astragalus Fabaceae genera Forages Medicinal plants Dietary supplements Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine Hidden categories : Articles with ' species ' microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikispecies Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه Беларуская Català Cebuano Čeština Dansk Deutsch Diné bizaad Eesti Español Esperanto فارسی Français Հայերեն Hornjoserbsce Ирон Íslenska Italiano עברית ქართული Қазақша Kurdî Лезги Latina Lietuvių Magyar മലയാളം Nederlands 日本 語 Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Polski Português Română Runa Simi Русский Scots Suomi Svenska Татарча / tatarça Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Winaray Žemaitėška 中文 39 more Edit links This page was last edited on 6 August 2018, at 15 : 28 ( UTC ). 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Question: what is a s t r a g a l u s
Answer: a large genus of about 4,200 species of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae and the subfamily Faboideae