Next Article in Journal
Comparison of Quercetin and Isoquercitrin’s Anti-Heart Failure Activity via MAPK Inflammatory Pathway and Caspase Apoptosis Pathway
Previous Article in Journal
Pharmacological Actions of Potassium Channel Openers on Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels
Previous Article in Special Issue
Therapeutic Potential of Bioactive Compounds in Edible Mushroom-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Isolation and Characterization of EVs from Pleurotus eryngii
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Pharmaceuticals
Volume 18
Issue 10
10.3390/ph18101448
pharmaceuticals-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Beyond Traditional Use: The Scientific Evidence for the Role of Astragali radix in Organ Protection via Modulating Oxidative Stress, Cell Death, and Immune Responses

by
Chuan Lin
1,
Huiqiang Liu
1,
Siyi Dong
1,
Le Yang
2,
Ling Kong
1,
Yu Guan
1,
Hui Sun
1,*,
Guangli Yan
1,
Ye Sun
2,
Ying Han
1 and
Xijun Wang
1,2,*
1
State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine, National Chinmedomics Research Center, National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Metabolomics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 24, Harbin 150040, China
2
State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Dade Road 111, Guangzhou 510180, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(10), 1448; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18101448
Submission received: 15 August 2025 / Revised: 22 September 2025 / Accepted: 24 September 2025 / Published: 26 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Extracts and the Therapeutic Potential of Bioactive Compounds, 2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Astragali radix (AR) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine derived from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus and A. mongholicus. AR exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as cardioprotective, hypoglycemic, antitumor, antiviral, and multi-organ restorative effects. Nearly 400 bioactive compounds have been identified in AR by phytochemical investigations, with astragalus polysaccharides (APS), astragalosides (I–IV), formononetin (FMN), and calycosin (CA) established as principal bioactive constituents. These components exhibit multifunctional mechanisms encompassing antioxidative stress, apoptotic suppression, autophagy regulation, anti-inflammation, and immune regulation, thereby exerting significant protective effects on critical organ systems such as the cardiovascular, renal, neural, hepatic, gastrointestinal, and immune systems. This review synthesized research over the past three decades, elucidating the organ protective mechanisms of AR through phytochemical profiling. Key findings demonstrated that FMN-mediated Nrf2 pathway activation could attenuate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, while astragaloside IV (AS-IV) could suppress endoplasmic reticulum stress by inactivating the PERK/ATF6/CHOP axis to ameliorate apoptosis. Additionally, comprehensive safety assessment and pharmacokinetic analysis also substantiated favorable bioavailability and toxicological profiles. To sum up, these findings provide a comprehensive theoretical basis and offer innovative strategies for preventing and treating complex diseases associated with multi-organ dysfunction, thereby facilitating future clinical applications.
Keywords: Astragali radix; oxidative stress; apoptosis; anti-inflammation; organ protection Astragali radix; oxidative stress; apoptosis; anti-inflammation; organ protection

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Lin, C.; Liu, H.; Dong, S.; Yang, L.; Kong, L.; Guan, Y.; Sun, H.; Yan, G.; Sun, Y.; Han, Y.; et al. Beyond Traditional Use: The Scientific Evidence for the Role of Astragali radix in Organ Protection via Modulating Oxidative Stress, Cell Death, and Immune Responses. Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18, 1448. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18101448

AMA Style

Lin C, Liu H, Dong S, Yang L, Kong L, Guan Y, Sun H, Yan G, Sun Y, Han Y, et al. Beyond Traditional Use: The Scientific Evidence for the Role of Astragali radix in Organ Protection via Modulating Oxidative Stress, Cell Death, and Immune Responses. Pharmaceuticals. 2025; 18(10):1448. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18101448

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lin, Chuan, Huiqiang Liu, Siyi Dong, Le Yang, Ling Kong, Yu Guan, Hui Sun, Guangli Yan, Ye Sun, Ying Han, and et al. 2025. "Beyond Traditional Use: The Scientific Evidence for the Role of Astragali radix in Organ Protection via Modulating Oxidative Stress, Cell Death, and Immune Responses" Pharmaceuticals 18, no. 10: 1448. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18101448

APA Style

Lin, C., Liu, H., Dong, S., Yang, L., Kong, L., Guan, Y., Sun, H., Yan, G., Sun, Y., Han, Y., & Wang, X. (2025). Beyond Traditional Use: The Scientific Evidence for the Role of Astragali radix in Organ Protection via Modulating Oxidative Stress, Cell Death, and Immune Responses. Pharmaceuticals, 18(10), 1448. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18101448

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop