astragalus

astragalus /as·trag·a·lus/ (as-trag´ah-lus) talus.astrag´alar

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as·trag·a·lus (-strg-ls)

n.

See talus.

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astragalus (aˑ·str·gä·ls),

n Latin names:
Astragalus membranaceus, Astragalus gummifer; part used: roots; uses: cold, fatigue, bronchitis, flu, immune system stimulant, reduction of side effects of chemotherapy; precautions: none known. Also called
huang-qi or
tragacanth.

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Astragalus

a genus of the legume family Fabaceae in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Many of the Astragalus spp. are poisonous with several forms of poisoning.

A number of species of the genus grow preferentially in selenium-rich soils and accumulate much more selenium than other plants, enhancing the probability of producing selenium poisoning. Included are A. bisulcatus, A. pattersonii, A. pectinatus, A. praelongus, A. preussi, A. racemosus.

Many species of the genus contain toxic aliphatic nitro compounds. Poisoning is manifested by nitrite ('nitro') poisoning or by acute respiratory distress or chronic incoordination, blindness and respiratory stertor. Includes A. arequipensis, A. atropubescens, A. bergii, A. campestris, A. canadensis, A. chamissonis, A. cryptobotrys, A. distinens, A. emoryanus var. emoryanus, A. falcatus, A. garbancillo, A. hamosus, A. hylophylus, A. miser, A. miser var. hylophylus (locoweed, timber milk vetch), A. miser var. oblongifolus, A. miser var. serotinus, A. oblongifolus, A. palenae, A. pehuenches, A. pterocarpus, A. serotinus, A. tetrapterus, A. toanus, A. vesiculosus.

Long-term ingestion of any one of a series of species of the plant causes 'loco' or locoweed poisoning, an acquired lysosomal storage disease caused by swainsonine, which is manifested by incoordination, extreme hypersensitivity and excitability. Includes A. allochrous, A. argillophilus, A. bisulcatus, A. diphysus, A. earlei, A. lentiginosus, A. lonchocarpus, A. lusitanicus (Erophaca baetica), A. missouriensis, A. mollisimus, A. nothoxys, A. nuttallianus, A. pubentissimus, A. strictus, A. tephrodes, A. thurberi, A. wootonii, A. variabilis. Chronic heart failure due to swainsonine is caused by A. lentiginosus at high altitudes.

Abortion is a common manifestation and is accompanied by a great variety of skeletal defects including arthrogryposis and hypermobility. Called also locoweed, milk vetch.

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astragalus

see talus.