Astragalus mongholicus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Genus: | Astragalus |
Species: | A. mongholicus
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Binomial name | |
Astragalus mongholicus Bunge[1]
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Synonyms[1] | |
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Astragalus mongholicus, synonyms including Astragalus propinquus and Astragalus membranaceus,[1] commonly known as Mongolian milkvetch in English;[2] 'Хунчир' in Mongolian; huáng qí (Chinese: 黃芪), běi qí (Chinese: 北芪) or huáng huā huáng qí (Chinese: 黃花黃耆),[3] in Mongolia, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Mongolian medicine.[4] It is a perennial plant and it is not listed as being threatened.[5]
A. mongholicus is widespread in temperate Asia, being found in Kazakhstan, from Siberia to the Russian Far East, in Mongolia, and in west and north China.[1]
A. mongholicus is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).[6] A. mongholicus is a component in Lectranal, a food supplement used in treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis,[7] though there is limited evidence of its effectiveness.[8]
Chemical constituents of the roots (Radix Astragali) include polysaccharides and triterpenoids (such as astragalosides),[9] as well as isoflavones (including kumatakenin, calycosin, and formononetin) and their glycosides and malonates.[10] It contains the saponin cycloastragenol.
While several other species of Astragalus are known to cause severe poisonings in livestock due to indolizine alkaloids, aliphatic nitro compounds, and accumulated selenium,[11] none of these constituents have been detected in Astragalus mongholicus used in dietary supplements and TCM preparations.[12]
A. mongholicus is listed (as A. propinquus) in the following official pharmacopoeia: