Botanical polysaccharides: macrophage immunomodulation and therapeutic potential.

Impact of plant products on innate and adaptive immune system of cultured finfish and shellfish

Astragalus membranaceus is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese herbal medicines. It is used as immune stimulant, tonic, antioxidant, hepatoprotectant, diuretic, antidiabetic, anticancer, and expectorant. The current paper reviews the botanical characteristics, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Astragali Radix. Information on Astragali Radix was gathered via the Internet (using Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Elsevier, ACS, Medline Plus, CNKI, and Web of Science) as well as from libraries and local books. More than 100 compounds, including flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides, and amino acids, have so far been identified, and the various biological activities of the compounds have been reported. As an important traditional Chinese medicine, further studies on Astragali Radix can lead to the development of new drugs and therapies for various diseases. The improvement of its utilization should be studied further.

Review of the botanical characteristics, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi).

The use of medicinal plants as immunostimulants in aquaculture: A review

Chinese herbs (Astragalus membranaceus and Lonicera japonica) and boron enhance the non-specific immune response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila

Zhongjun Li

Papers

A study on the immune receptors for polysaccharides from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus, a Chinese medicinal herb