Biology:Astragalus (plant)
| Astragalus | |
|---|---|
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| A. lentiginosus | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Tribe: | Galegeae |
| Subtribe: | Astragalinae |
| Genus: | Astragalus L. |
| Type species | |
| Astragalus onobrychis[disputed ] L.
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| Species | |
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Over 3,000 species, see list of Astragalus species | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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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]
Taxonomy
The genus was formally described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum.[8]
The name Astragalus is Greek, an old name for this group of plants which were believed to have a positive effect on goat milk production.[9]
Selected species
Astragalus testiculatus
Astragalus dasyanthus
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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.[citation needed]
Uses
Traditional medicine
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 isoflavone flavonoids, 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]
Side effects and toxicology
Although astragalus supplements are generally well tolerated, mild gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and allergic reactions may occur.[11][13] Because astragalus may affect regulation of blood sugar and blood pressure, it may be risky for people with blood disorders, diabetes, or hypertension to use it as a supplement.[11] Astragalus may interact with prescribed drugs that suppress the immune system, such as medications used by people being treated for cancer or recovery from organ transplants.[11]
Some astragalus species can be toxic, such as those found in the United States containing the neurotoxin swainsonine, 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
References
- ↑ "Astragalus L.". Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330028-2.
- ↑ "Astragalus L.". Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330028-2.
- ↑ Frodin, David G. (2004). "History and Concepts of Big Plant Genera". Taxon 53 (3): 753–76. doi:10.2307/4135449.
- ↑ "Astragalus (Locoweed) flowers". Rootcellar.us. http://www.rootcellar.us/wildflowers/astrag.htm.
- ↑ Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) (in en). Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. pp. 100. ISBN 0878422803. OCLC 25708726. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/25708726.
- ↑ Xu, Langran; Podlech, Dietrich, "Astragalus", Flora of China, 10, http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=102978, retrieved 9 December 2018
- ↑ "A Guide to the Common Locoweeds and Milkvetches of New Mexico". New Mexico State University. https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR557/.
- ↑ "Astragalus L.". International Plant Names Index. https://beta.ipni.org/n/330028-2.
- ↑ Wilhelm, Gerould; Rericha, Laura (2017). Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Indiana Academy of Sciences.
- ↑ "Astragalus boeticus L.". Beltsville, Maryland. 2018. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?5727.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 "Astragalus". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. 29 November 2016. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/astragalus.
- ↑ Su, Guobin; Chen, Xiankun; Liu, Zhuangzhu; Yang, Lihong; Zhang, La; Stålsby Lundborg, Cecilia; Wen, Zehuai; Guo, Xinfeng et al. (1 December 2016). "Oral (Huang qi) for preventing frequent episodes of acute respiratory tract infection in children". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016 (12): CD011958. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011958.pub2. PMID 27905672.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Astragalus". Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health. 3 December 2018. PMID 30000951. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501891/.
External links
- Astragalus – Genus of vascular plants
- Astragalus – Clinical summary and constituents, MSKCC Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Wikidata ☰ Q157184 entry
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