ASTRAGALUS

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ASTRAGALUS

Astragalus Membranaceous

 

Astragalus Membranaceous & White Blood Cell Function

Patricia Wolf B.Sc. N.D.

 

Introduction

 

Traditional Chinese medicine as practised today had its theoretical and

philosophical tenets first outlined in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic,

written between 200 and 100 BC. The Inner Classic promotes the use of herbs,

acupuncture, dietary management and exercise as therapeutic modalities

(Bensky, Gamble).

 

Centuries of careful observation and empirical study have resulted in an

extremely detailed and refined system of herbal use according to traditional

Chinese medical theory (TCM). However, very little is known about the

mechanism of action or the physiological effects of most Chinese herbs in

terms of modern Western medical thought. Recently, research has been

conducted, mostly in China, in an attempt to elucidate these areas.

 

Radix Astragali, the root of Astragalus membranaceous (Huang Ch'i), is a

popular tonic herb first described in the Divine Husbandman's Classic of the

Materia Medica, a text reconstructed and edited from several earlier works

by Tao Hong-Jing in the 6th. Century A.D.(Bensky et al). According to TCM,

Radix Astragali affects the Spleen, Lung and Triple Warmer meridians. It

specifically tonifies the exterior, or protective energy (Wei Chi), which is

understood to be the body's first defence against the external disease

factors (ie., Wind, Cold, Damp, Heat, Dryness). Huang Ch'i also tonifies

Chi, especially the Yang Chi of the Spleen and Stomach. It tonifies Blood

and regulated fluid metabolism (Bensky et al; Teeguarden).

 

Modern research has revealed several effects of Radix Astragali. Of primary

interest to the author is the herbs's reputed stimulatory effect on the

immune system. Teeguarden reports on Chinese studies which have shown

Astragalus to have in vitro anti-bacterial effects, as well as an inhibitory

effect on T- suppressor cells. He also cites clinical trials on cancer

patients which suggest that Astragalus enhances bone marrow activity and

adrenal cortical function which had been depleted by chemotherapy and/or

radiation treatment. (The original papers were not available for perusal.)

 

One study found that Radix Astragali significantly enhanced interferon

production in mice, in human cell cultures and in vitro leucocyte samples

(Hou, Ma, Wu, Li, Li). These workers also describe a clinical trial showing

that a combination of human interferon and Astragalus was more effective in

preventing common cold symptoms than either interferon alone or a flu

vaccine. In one of the few Western studies conducted, Astragalus was found

to restore T-cell function in cancer patients with an impaired immune

response, and to augment T-cell function in normal donors (Sun, Hersh,

Talpaz, Lee, Wong, Loo, Mavligit).

 

This paper will report on the effect of Radix Astragali on white blood cell

(WBC) status in human volunteers as reflected by WBC differential count and

by " Liv Cell " analysis.

 

Abstract

 

The effect of a decoction of the Chinese tonic herb Astragalus membranaceous

on certain aspects of white blood cell (WBC) status was studied in seven

healthy volunteers. After a one week course of treatment with Astragalus

decoction at a dosage equivalent to 1.5g of dried root t.i.d. per os, the

relative number of leucocytes was significantly increased (p s 0.01).

Furthermore, this effect was sustained (p s 0.05) one week after treatment

had been discontinued. A WBC differential count showed significant changes

in the proportions of individual categories of leucocytes (p s 0.05), such

that high or low percentages of leucocytes were brought into normal range,

with the exception of basophils, which remained high. This effect was also

sustained one week after treatment had been discontinued (p s 0.05). A `Liv

Cell' analysis did not yield significant (p s 0.05), but this may have been

a function of the criteria chosen to measure WBC status. This study suggests

that Astragalus membranaceous may have a regulatory effect on WBC status and

therefore may be a useful treatment in conditions of bo the deficient and

excess (or disproportionate) WBC levels.

 

Materials and Methods

 

Herbal Preparation

 

454 grams of grade `A' quality dried Astragalus root was obtained from Nam

Pek Hong, a reputable Chinese herb store in Toronto's Chinatown. The root

was placed in 9.09 l. distilled water, brought to a boil, and then simmered

to half the original volume of water, The extractive was poured off and

saved. An additional 6.82 l. distilled water was added to the herb, brought

to the boil and similarly simmered to half the original volume. This

extractive was added to the first and white vinegar was also added to 4.5%

of the final solution as a preservative. The final decoction yielded unit

doses of 42.6 ml., equivalent to 1.5 g. of dried root.

 

The placebo solution was prepared by boiling potato with onion skins in

distilled water to obtain the required colour, and adding white vinegar in

4.5% of the final solution.

 

Subjects

 

Twelve healthy volunteers were recruited and randomly divided into two

groups of eight and four subjects, treatment and placebo groups

respectively. Subjects were asked to refrain from using any other treatment

modalities or making any dietary or lifestyle changes during the test

period.

 

Experimental Design and Procedure

 

A double blind format was used. Blood samples were obtained by finger prick

on days 1, 8, and 15. The herbal decoction or placebo was taken for 6 days,

from day 2 to 8 inclusive. The dosage was 42.6 ml. three times a day. A WBC

differential count and `Liv Cell' analysis (product information) were

performed on the blood samples by a technician blind to the experimental

conditions.

 

For the 'Liv Cell' analysis, 25 WBC's were examined for each subject. Five

categories were used to indicate WBC status, namely, the number of WBC's

showing:

1. phagocytized material

2. streaming of cytoplasm/chemotaxis

3. irregular borders

4. spilling of contents/degeneration

5. no apparent activity

 

Categories 1 and 2 were considered indicative of positive WBC function and

given a score of +1 for each cell in either of these categories. Categories

3, 4 and 5 were chosen as negative parameters of WBC status and cells

appearing in them were given a score of -1 each. Overlap between categories

was allowed; thus a cell showing characteristics of more than one category

would be entered under each. Therefore the maximum score possible for

optimal WBC function would by 50 (ie. 25 in each of categories 1 and 2, and

0 in categories 3, 4 and 5). The final score was used as an index of WBC

status and comparisons were made between all possible pairs of scores.

 

Statistical Analysis

 

The number of fields examined to yield a count of 100 WBC's was taken as an

indication of the relative numbers of WBC's per sample. Statistical analysis

of the changes in the number of fields between pretreatment with Astragalus

and post treatment samples taken at one and two weeks respectively, was

performed using a right-tailed Student's t-test for paired data at p s 0.05

level of significance. Similarly, the same test was used to analyze the

change in the proportion of individual types of leucocytes, except that a

two tailed test was used. Student's t- test (right-tailed) was also used to

analyze the difference between the WBC index score obtained from the `Liv

Cell' analysis.

 

Results

 

All but one treatment subject showed a decrease in the number of fields

needed to locate 100 WBC's in the differential count, indicative of a

relative increase in the total number of WBC's after treatment with

Astragalus. The one subject who showed a slight increase in the number of

fields had the lowest number of fields initially (100 as compared to the

mean of 410 fields). The mean difference in numbers of fields studied was

183.9 and the difference was significant at p s 0.01. Furthermore, the

change was maintained in sample number 3 taken one week after discontinuing

the Astragalus (p s 0.05).

 

Each of the five types of leucocytes showed a significant change in their

proportions of the total count immediately after treatment at p s 0.05 level

of significance. The changes appeared to be regulatory, such that relatively

low proportions were increased while high proportions were decreased. In

most cases, except for the basophils, the differential count was brought

more in line with the expected normal frequencies for adults (ie.

neutrophils, 50 - 70%; lymphocytes, 20 - 40%; monocytes, 2 - 10%;

eosinophils, 1 - 4%; basophils s 0.5%).

 

The " immune index " scores obtained using `Liv Cell' analysis did not show an

effect at the p s 0.05 level of significance. However, the mean difference

(4.71) was only 0.40 units below the upper limit of acceptance for the null

hypothesis (5.11). Furthermore, a significant negative change in the immune

index score was shown by only one subject, and if this subject is omitted

from the statistical analysis of results, the mean change in scores

increases significantly at the p s 0.05 level.

 

It was not possible to statistically compare the treatment group with the

placebo group, as only one subject in the placebo group completed the study.

 

Discussion

 

Radix Astragali has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine as an

important tonic herb. More recently, it has come under scrutiny regarding

its physiological actions as understood in Western Medical theory. Among

these is the herb's reputed positive effect on the immune system. This study

has attempted to determine the effect of Astragalus decoction on certain

parameters of WBC activity.

 

Astragalus was seen to have a stimulatory effect on the relative numbers of

leucocytes at the p s 0.01 level of significance. The relative proportions

of individual categories of leucocytes were also significantly affected by

treatment with Astragalus (p s 0.05), such that high proportions were

lowered and low proportions were raised. This effect applied to both the

variance between sample means and the variance within samples. Specifically,

four subjects had above normal baseline proportions of monocytes & /or

eosinophils, while three subjects had below normal proportions. In each

case, treatment with Astragalus brought the proportions within normal

ranges. Thus Astragalus appears to have a regulatory or amphoteric effect on

individual classes of leucocytes in the WBC differential count. Furthermore,

these effects seem to be sustained over time as the results obtained one

week after discontinuing treatment indicate. This finding corroborates

observations made by Hou et al.

 

In addition to the WBC differential, a `Liv Cell' analysis was used in an

attempt to support findings. The Liv Cell technique allows observation of

living, unstained blood corpuscles and their activity. However, criteria for

standard assessment is not well established for this method. An attempt was

made to choose and weight parameters visible by Liv Cell analysis which

would provide a measure of immune status. The parameters chosen yielded

results that were just below the p s 0.05 level of significance and that

lend support to the findings obtained using the WBC differential, namely,

that Astragalus appears to have an enhancing effect on leucocyte function.

The Liv Cell affords valuable and unique information about the dynamic state

of the blood, but more work needs to be done in setting definite criteria

for both quantitative and qualitative analysis.

 

Although the sample size in this study was small, the results would seem to

warrant further investigation into the area of enhancement of the immune

system by Astragalus. Specifically, a larger sample size with a placebo

control group would be in order. In addition to WBC differential count, a

total WBC count should be performed. It would also be interesting to screen

subjects to recruit those with both high and low baseline differentials for

specific categories of leucocytes to test the hypothesized regulatory effect

of Astragalus suggested by this study. Furthermore, a longer treatment time

with follow-up samples taken over several months (see Hou et al) would

provide more information about the long term effects.

 

If Astragalus is consistently found to regulate leucocyte activity, it may

be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of both immune deficient conditions

and conditions of aberrant leucocytosis, such as leukaemia.

 

References

Bensky, D., Gamble, A. (compiled & translated by). Chinese Herbal Medicine

Materia Medica. Eastland Press Inc., P.O. Box 12689, Seattle, Washington

9811; 1986. p.3 Ibid. p.5, p.457 Ibid. pp. 457 - 9 Hou, Y., Ma, G., Wu, S.,

Li, Y., Li, H. " Effect of Radix Astragali seu Hedysari on the Interferon

System " . Chinese Medical Journal, 94(1): 35 - 40, 1981. Sun, Y., Hersh,

E.M., Talpaz, M., Lee, S-L., Wong, W., Loo, T.L., Mavligit, G.M. " Immune

Restoration and/or Augmentation of Local Graft Versus Host Reaction by

Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs " . Cancer 52:70 - 73, 1983. Teeguarden,

R. Chinese Tonic Herbs. Japan Publications Inc., New York 1984. pp. 98 -

101.

[Guest guest]

I was having so much fun browsing the net and got excited I didn't even

think about anything but sharing what I found! I will be a good girl

now...

 

Jamie

-

" Krupa, Gabrielle Ms " <krupagab

<herbal remedies >

Monday, January 08, 2001 10:50 PM

RE: [herbal remedies] ASTRAGALUS

 

 

> Jamie?? Whatchadoing girl? You're sending files we already have <lol>

> Just wondering, if you're taking all this time to do research, would you

> mind doing it from the two websites we use for the archives? Otherwise I

> can't load them (it'll take too much time to rework them later....) just

> now.... sniff... anyway, just wondering what you were up to <g>

>

> One of the sites is giving all the chemical componds, uses, properties,

> etc, in a short list form, the other is including gardening info. If a

> herb is not available, we go for additional sources....

>

> wouldcha mind?

>

> Hugs, Sorcy

>

> Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following:

> 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire.

> 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural

remedy.

> 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and

to

> prescribe for your own health.

> We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long

as

> they behave themselves.

> Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any

person

> following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk.

> It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from

list members, you are agreeing to

> be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and

members free of any liability.

>

> Dr. Ian Shillington

> Doctor of Naturopathy

> ian_shillington

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just tell me what the 2 web sites are... Botanicals.com and ??

 

I will be happy to help anytime I am needed.

 

Jamie

-

" SPARERIBAZ " <spareribaz

<herbal remedies >

Wednesday, January 10, 2001 5:00 PM

Re: [herbal remedies] ASTRAGALUS

 

 

> I was having so much fun browsing the net and got excited I didn't even

> think about anything but sharing what I found! I will be a good girl

> now...

>

> Jamie

> -

> " Krupa, Gabrielle Ms " <krupagab

> <herbal remedies >

> Monday, January 08, 2001 10:50 PM

> RE: [herbal remedies] ASTRAGALUS

>

>

> > Jamie?? Whatchadoing girl? You're sending files we already have <lol>

> > Just wondering, if you're taking all this time to do research, would you

> > mind doing it from the two websites we use for the archives? Otherwise

I

> > can't load them (it'll take too much time to rework them later....) just

> > now.... sniff... anyway, just wondering what you were up to <g>

> >

> > One of the sites is giving all the chemical componds, uses, properties,

> > etc, in a short list form, the other is including gardening info. If a

> > herb is not available, we go for additional sources....

> >

> > wouldcha mind?

> >

> > Hugs, Sorcy

> >

> > Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following:

> > 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire.

> > 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural

> remedy.

> > 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician

and

> to

> > prescribe for your own health.

> > We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long

> as

> > they behave themselves.

> > Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any

> person

> > following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk.

> > It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products

from

> list members, you are agreeing to

> > be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and

> members free of any liability.

> >

> > Dr. Ian Shillington

> > Doctor of Naturopathy

> > ian_shillington

> >

> >

>

>

>

> Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following:

> 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire.

> 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural

remedy.

> 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and

to

> prescribe for your own health.

> We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long

as

> they behave themselves.

> Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any

person

> following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk.

> It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from

list members, you are agreeing to

> be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and

members free of any liability.

>

> Dr. Ian Shillington

> Doctor of Naturopathy

> ian_shillington

>

>