英文名：Milkvetch Root 或 Mongolian Milkvetch Root

Scientific Name

• Latin Name：Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge (main species) and its variety Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao (Mongolian variety)

Botanical Classification

• Kingdom：Plantae
• Division：Angiosperms
• Class：Dicotyledons
• Order：Rosales
• Family：Fabaceae
• Genus：Astragalus

Common Names

Milkvetch Root or Mongolian Milkvetch Root has numerous common names in Chinese, reflecting its diverse regional usage and recognition. Some of these include Huangqi, Beiqi, Jinqi, etc.

Origin

Originating primarily from Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Heilongjiang provinces in China, Milkvetch Root is a vital component of traditional Chinese medicine.

Morphological Characteristics

• The perennial herb grows to a height of 50-150cm, with a taproot that serves as the medicinal part.
• The roots are typically cylindrical, slightly twisted, and range in color from brownish to dark brown, adorned with prominent longitudinal wrinkles and lenticels.

Chemical Constituents

Milkvetch Root contains a myriad of bioactive compounds, such as astragalosides I, II, and IV, soyasaponins, astragalus polysaccharides I, II, and III, along with flavonoids like formononetin and calycosin, and amino acids like asparagine, valine, and proline, as well as trace elements like iron, manganese, zinc, and rubidium.