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PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES - TOXICOLOGY - DRUG INTERACTIONS

Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus)

Radix Astragali has been valued by traditional Chinese medicine for its ability to enhance the
immune system, and for its anti-stress and antimicrobial properties (Tan & Vanitha, 2004). Both
in vitro and in vivo investigations have confirmed that Radix Astragali enhances the immune
system through immunomodulation and immunorestorative effects (Cho & Leung, 2007). In
immunosuppressed animal models, Radix Astragali exhibited immunoregulatory effect through
elevating interleukin-2, interferon-gamma and the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes
(Luo et al., 2009). The active constituents of Radix Astragali, icariin and astragalosid 1 accelerated
the proliferation and differentiation of canine bone marrow stromal cells in vitro (Liu et al.,
2006). In a study for repairing alveolar bone defects in dogs, Radix Astragali showed alveolar
bone generation and cementum regeneration (Xu et al., 2007). In another experimental study,
extracts of Radix Astragali showed a definite protective effect on the ischemic reperfusion of
injured kidney in dogs (Yuan et al., 2003).

Toxicity for Radix Astragali has not been documented in dogs and cats when administered orally in therapeutic
doses. In dogs, Radix Astragali was found to be safe and without any side effects in a subchronic toxicity
TOXICOLOGY intraperitoneal is 40 g/kg of body weight in mice (Chang & But, 1987). 50
study. The safety dosage range was 2.85-19.95 g/kg of body weight (Yu et al., 2007). LD of Radix Astragali

Equivalent toxic dose in 20 kg dog: 800 g IP of Radix Astragali.
Equivalent toxic dose in 5 kg cat: 200 g IP of Radix Astragali.

DRUG Validated interactions studies do not exist for Radix Astragali preparations. Currently there is no
INTERACTIONS evidence of drug interactions resulting from the effects of Radix Astragali on drug-metabolizing
systems (Stargrove et al., 2008).

Immunine -VM TM | 3