Astragalus (plant)

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Astragalus
Borrego Milkvetch up close.jpg
A. lentiginosus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Clade: Inverted repeat-lacking clade
Tribe: Galegeae
Subtribe: Astragalinae
Genus: Astragalus
L.
Type species
Astragalus onobrychis [ disputed – discuss ]
L.
Species

Over 3,000 species, see list of Astragalus species

Synonyms [1]
  • AcanthophacaNevski
  • AcanthyllisPomel
  • AiluroschiaSteven
  • AlopeciasSteven
  • AmmodytesSteven
  • AnaphragmaSteven
  • AnkylobusSteven
  • AstenolobiumNevski
  • AstracanthaPodlech
  • AstragalinaBubani
  • AstragaloidesAdans.
  • AtelophragmaRydb.
  • AulosemaWalp.
  • BarnebyellaPodlech
  • BatidophacaRydb.
  • BrachyphragmaRydb.
  • CaryolobiumSteven
  • ChondrocarpusSteven
  • CnemidophacosRydb.
  • ContortuplicataMedik.
  • CraccinaSteven
  • CryptorrhynchusNevski
  • CtenophyllumRydb.
  • CymbicarposSteven
  • CystiumSteven
  • CystoporaLunell
  • DidymopeltaRegel & Schmalh.
  • DiholcosRydb.
  • DipeltaRegel & Schmalh.
  • DiplothecaHochst.
  • EuilusSteven
  • EuprepiaSteven
  • FeidanthusSteven
  • GeoprumnonRydb.
  • GlandulaMedik.
  • GlauxHill
  • GlottisMedik.
  • GlycyphyllaSteven
  • GynophorariaRydb.
  • Halicacabus(Bunge) Nevski
  • HamariaFourr.
  • HamosaMedik.
  • HedyphyllaSteven
  • HesperastragalusA.Heller
  • HesperonixRydb.
  • HippomanicaMolina
  • HolcophacosRydb.
  • HomalobusNutt.
  • HypoglottisFourr.
  • JonesiellaRydb.
  • KentrophytaNutt.
  • KirchneraOpiz
  • LithoonNevski
  • Lonchophaca Rydb.
  • MacrosemaSteven
  • MedyphyllaOpiz
  • MicrophacosRydb.
  • MyctirophoraNevski
  • MyobromaSteven
  • NeodielsiaHarms
  • OedicephalusNevski
  • OnixMedik.
  • OnyxMedik.
  • Ophiocarpus(Bunge) Ikonn.
  • OrophacaBritton [Note 1]
  • Oxyglottis(Bunge) Nevski
  • PedinaSteven
  • PhacaL.
  • PhacomeneRydb.
  • PhacopsisRydb.
  • PhilammosSteven
  • PhysondraRaf.
  • PicraenaSteven
  • PisophacaRydb.
  • PodochreaFourr.
  • PoecilocarpusNevski
  • ProseliasSteven
  • PsychridiumSteven
  • PterophacosRydb.
  • RydbergiellaFedde & Syd. ex Rydb.
  • SaccocalyxSteven
  • SewerzowiaRegel & Schmalh.
  • SolenotusSteven
  • StellaMedik.
  • TiumMedik.
  • TragacanthaMill.
  • TriquetraMedik.
  • XerophysaSteven
  • XylophacosRydb.
Fruits and seeds of Astragalus hamosus Astragalus hamosus MHNT.BOT.2007.40.117.jpg
Fruits and seeds of Astragalus hamosus

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.

Contents

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

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

  1. ↑ This may actually be a valid genus.

References

  1. ↑ "Astragalus L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  2. ↑ "Astragalus L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  3. ↑ Frodin, David G. (2004). "History and Concepts of Big Plant Genera". Taxon. 53 (3): 753–76. doi:10.2307/4135449. JSTOR   4135449.
  4. ↑ "Astragalus (Locoweed) flowers". Rootcellar.us. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 100. ISBN   0878422803. OCLC   25708726.
  6. ↑ Xu, Langran; Podlech, Dietrich. "Astragalus". Flora of China. Vol. 10. Retrieved 9 December 2018– via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  7. ↑ "A Guide to the Common Locoweeds and Milkvetches of New Mexico". aces.nmsu.edu. New Mexico State University. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "Astragalus L." ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  9. ↑ Wilhelm, Gerould; Rericha, Laura (2017). Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Indiana Academy of Sciences.
  10. ↑ "Astragalus boeticus L." USDA - Agricultural Research Service National Plant Germplasm System GRIN-Taxonomy . Beltsville, Maryland. 2018. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Astragalus". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  12. ↑ Su, Guobin; Chen, Xiankun; Liu, Zhuangzhu; Yang, Lihong; Zhang, La; Stålsby Lundborg, Cecilia; Wen, Zehuai; Guo, Xinfeng; Qin, Xindong; Liang, Jueyao; Liu, Xusheng (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. PMC   6463872 . PMID   27905672.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Astragalus". Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health. 3 December 2018. PMID   30000951.
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