Quality Control of Radix Astragali (The Root of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus) Along Its Value Chains

Abstract

Radix Astragali (RA), the root of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Bunge) P.K. Hsiao, known as “Huangqi” in Chinese, has been used as a traditional herbal medicine or food in China for more than 2,000 years and is now consumed globally. Unfortunately, the increasing demand for RA has led to the overexploitation of its wild stock, as well as quality problems, including adulteration and contamination. Therefore, the sustainable cultivation of RA is urgently needed. In the present research, semi-structured interviews and key informant interviews were conducted, over a 2-year period, to collect data from stakeholders in the main production areas; moreover, a targeted chemical analysis-based quality assessment strategy was applied to understand the quality of RA. Accordingly, 10 different types of value chains (VCs) were identified in RA production; meanwhile, the contents of the main active ingredients (astragaloside and calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside) were analyzed by HPLC-ELSD-UV and the yield of medicinal material was demined and further analyzed using k-means clustering analysis. The results show that the tight relationship between quality of the RA and stakeholders’ revenues among the VCs, which reflects a more general trend in the production system. Over the past few decades, vertical coordination has emerged increasingly in VCs of RA, which leads to a more coherent traceability system and rigorous regulations in the supply chains. Daodi herbs can be considered to be a standard that is distinctive with good quality characteristics that emphasize the origins of the medicinal plants. We find that the suitability of geographical areas and vertical integration can improve the VCs of RA, which further contributes to its quality control, as well as its sustainable production.

Microglia Polarization from M1 toward M2 Phenotype Is Promoted by Astragalus Polysaccharides Mediated through Inhibition of miR‐155 in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

“…In recent years, the effective ingredients of Chinese herbal medicine have attracted the attention of many scholars because of their multichannel and multitarget therapeutic effects. APS is one of the most commonly used in Chinese medicines for the treatment of diseases such as neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases [26]. Preliminary studies in our laboratory have found that the water extract of Astragalus membranaceus and its active ingredient APS could effectively treat EAE mice, inhibit neuroinflammation and demyelination, and suppress the proliferation of MOG specific T cells [6].…”

Research on the drying Mechanism of Astragali Radix during Processing

“…Bge. have been used as Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) for more than 2,000 years [5]. Astragali Radix (AR) can tonify the middle-jiao and replenish qi, solidify the surface and promote diuresis, dispel sepsis and renew muscle [6].…”

The Quality Monitoring of Cistanches Herba (Cistanche deserticola Ma): A Value Chain Perspective

“…At present, the artificial inoculation technology for C. deserticola cultivation is becoming increasingly advanced, and the cultivated area is expanding on a yearly basis. Therefore, artificial cultivation of C. deserticola may be considered to resolve issues arising from a scarcity of medicinal and protected wild resources (Bi et al, 2020). Moreover, the development of a series of health products based on Cistanches Herba has resulted in a substantial expansion in the international influence of Cistanches Herba.…”

“…Besides production, VC research also focuses on other activities related to the supply chain, including distribution and marketing. VCs define the activities involved in different modes of production, while emphasizing the relationship between primary producers and other stakeholders in different production systems and their socio-economic impact (Bi et al, 2020). Although VC analyses have been widely used in various products, only a few studies have investigated the VCs of medicinal plants and their derivatives.…”

“…Understanding the relationship between production and supply helps identify the pressure points in different VCs. By comparing different VCs horizontally and vertically, a better understanding of the differences in the quality and price of herbal medicines in different markets may be acquired (Yao et al, 2018;Bi et al, 2020). In a short chain, such as one where the product is grown and used locally as an herbal medicine, the quality and safety of the product is relatively easy to control and manage.…”