Anti-Aging Implications of Astragalus Membranaceus (Huangqi): A Well-Known Chinese Tonic

Abstract

Owing to a dramatic increase in average life expectancy and the Family Planning program of the 1970s - 1990s, China is rapidly becoming an aging society. Therefore, the investigation of healthspan-extending drugs becomes more urgent. Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) is a major medicinal herb that has been commonly used in many herbal formulations in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat a wide variety of diseases and body disorders, or marketed as life-prolonging extracts for human use in China, for more than 2000 years. The major components of Astragalus membranaceus are polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins. Pharmacological research indicates that the extract component of Astragalus membranaceus can increase telomerase activity, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, hepatoprotective, expectorant, and diuretic effects. A proprietary extract of the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus, called TA-65, was associated with a significant age-reversal effect in the immune system. Our review focuses on the function and the underlying mechanisms of Astragalus membranaceus in lifespan extension, anti-vascular aging, anti-brain aging, and anti-cancer effects, based on experimental and clinical studies.

Botanical Medicine and Phytochemicals in Healthy Aging and Longevity—Part 1

“…Fourteen separate polysaccharides from A. membranaceus have been identified. 11 In an animal model, A. membranaceus has been found to increase glutathione and reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) via upregulation of Nrf2 (an effect we revisit in Part 2 of this review). A. membranaceus has many potential additional targets in promotion of longevity.…”

Astragaloside III activates TACE/ADAM17‐dependent anti‐inflammatory and growth factor signaling in endothelial cells in a p38‐dependent fashion

“…It has been commonly prescribed in numerous herbal formulations by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to treat complex diseases including atherosclerosis, ischemic cardio‐cerebral vascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer (Auyeung, Han, & Ko, ). As elderly population in China has been increasing rapidly, the potential use of this herb in the treatment of aging‐related disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases, or even as a life‐prolonging medicine, has been actively investigated in recent years (Liu, Zhao, & Luo, ; Qi, Gao, Hou, & Wan, ). However, the bioactive substances in Astragali Radix , their pharmacological activities, and the associated molecular mechanisms are rather complicated and still far from being fully elucidated.…”

The Chinese herb Fructus Broussonetiae aids learning and memory in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion by reducing proinflammatory microglia activation in rats

“…Traditional Chinese Medicine has been applied for thousands of years in the therapy of cognitive impairment, and at least 34 herbs have definite citations for improving memory impairment (May et al, 2013). The possible mechanism of herbal benefits include: (a) promote neural progenitor proliferation; (b) extend neurite outgrowth; (c) increase the synaptic regeneration; (d) enhance the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity and so on (Cakova et al, 2017;Liu et al, 2017;Wang et al, 2017;Yang et al, 2017). In traditional Chinese medicine, Fructus Broussonetiae was often used for the therapy of dementia amnesia (Yang et al, 2017).…”