Description
Modern studies have confirmed immunostimulating, antioxidant, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral and wound healing effects of astragalus root. Pharmacological action is determined mainly by such groups of substances as polysaccharides, triterpene saponins (astragalosides), isoflavonoids and other polyphenols. The astragalus root is successfully used in the treatment of colds and some other viral infections, asthenic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, in the complex therapy of immune deficiency syndromes of various genesis, oncological diseases to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. Preparations based on astragalus are activators of telomerase,
Polysaccharides of astragalus play an important role in the implementation of immunomodulatory action have hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, antiviral, antioxidant and antitumor effect. By chemical structure belong to glucans and heteropolysaccharides. Astragalus is widely known as immunostimulating, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antitumor and antiviral agents. Use it for fatigue, lack of appetite, diarrhea. It is a popular “anti-aging” remedy that slows down the aging of the body and improves overall well-being. Modern experimental and clinical studies have confirmed the expediency of such use of astragalus. Pharmacological action is determined mainly by such groups of substances as polysaccharides, triterpene saponins (astragalosides),
Immunomodulating action: The leading direction of pharmacological studies of astragalus membranous is the study of the immunostimulatory properties of polysaccharides and other active ingredients of this plant. It has been experimentally established that the astragalus root stimulates the immune system in various ways. Its use increases the number of stem cells in the bone marrow and lymphoid tissues and activates their development into active immunocytes, as well as immunoglobulin production and macrophage activity. Astragalus activates T-lymphocytes and cells – natural killers (NK cells) including under conditions of drug suppression.
Antioxidant action: Flavonoids, saponins and polysaccharides of astragalus roots help to minimize free radical damage to membranes. The complex of astragalus polysaccharides increases the antioxidant status and prevents the development of oxidative stress in the oxidative damage of
skeletal muscles caused by chronic physical overstrain, for example, when excessive running loads.
Antitumor activity: Antitumor activity of astragalus is associated with its ability to enhance the activity of NK cells, as well as with immunostimulating action, since some types of tumors, chemotherapy and radiation reduce the activity of the immune system. Saponins of astragalus roots inhibit the growth of human colon cancer cells HT-29 and gastric adenocarcinoma in vitro by stimulating apoptosis through the caspase mechanism. In human K562 myeloid leukemia cells, a lectin isolated from astragalus induces apoptosis through the caspase mechanism. The sum of polysaccharides in the high-dose astragalus (25 mg / ml) reduces the viability of HepG2 liver cancer cells by more than 40.5% for 24 hours and 67.3% after 48 hours; apoptosis is observed, respectively, in 23.9% and 38.2% of HepG2 cells.
Antibacterial, antiviral and antiprotozoal action: The extract of astragalus inhibits the in vitro growth of Shigella dysenteriae, beta-hemolytic streptococci, Corinebacterium diphteriae, Diplococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, and the causative agent of Toxoplasma gondii toxoplasmosis. The extract of astragalus is a promising means of prevention and treatment of acute viral myocarditis caused by the Coxsackie virus of group B.
CLINICAL APPLICATION
Astragalus demonstrated a wide range of therapeutic effects: it is known as an immunomodulator for immunodeficiency syndromes, as a remedy for the side effects of chemotherapy and myelosuppression in cancer patients. It is used in the treatment of colds and some other viral infections, diarrhea, asthenic syndrome, kidney and heart diseases. A unique author’s, dry extract from the roots of astragalus membranous, is used to improve the general condition and slow the aging of the body, for the prevention of cancer.
Cardiovascular diseases: The use of the extract of astragalus in the clinic has made it possible to achieve significant improvement in patients with ischemic heart disease; the effectiveness of the drug is comparable to that of nifedipine. A number of studies have shown the antiviral activity of astragalus in patients suffering from viral myocarditis. Kidney Disease: Astragalus membranous has been used for thousands of years in China and East Asia with kidney diseases. The astragalus root, among other “herbal fortifying” herbs, reduces damage to the renal tubules during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in humans and shortens the recovery time after this procedure.
TOXICOLOGY AND SAFETY OF USE
When used in the recommended dose, the astragalus is considered to be non-toxic, good tolerability of preparations based on it is noted. The root of astragalus membranous is a known remedy with centuries-old traditions of successful application. To date, dietary supplements, the main component of which is the Astragalus Root, are widely used for the prevention and the complex treatment of socially important diseases, such as cardiovascular, allergic, oncological, infectious, which are often complicated by the formation of secondary immunodeficiency. The promising nature of its use as a restorative and aging-slowing agent is confirmed by many modern experimental and clinical studies.
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