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ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS

TYPE OF INGREDIENT​
Essential oil and fragrance
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Perfumes, moisturizers, soaps, body lotions, aromatherapy products, and anti-inflammatory creams

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS (MILK VETCH)?

A few small clinical trials involving Astragalus-based formulations have demonstrated improvements in fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and skin texture. Telomere protection and increased skin brightness and moisturization were also observed.

Collagen Preservation and Synthesis: AS-IV enhances type I collagen synthesis and inhibits its degradation by activating the TGF-β/Smad pathway and suppressing matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1). It also promotes autophagy and inhibits ERK and p38 MAPK signaling following UVB exposure.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects:

Astragalus components reduce oxidative stress by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and downregulating the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Isoflavones and flavonoids further enhance antioxidant defense by scavenging radicals and supporting enzymatic activity.

Mitochondrial Protection:

Astragalus polysaccharides preserve mitochondrial membrane potential, restore ATP levels, and reduce UVA-induced ROS in keratinocytes, supporting cellular energy balance and reducing photoaging.

Photoprotective and Hydrating Properties:

Cycloastragenol (CAG) suppresses MMP expression, enhances collagen I, and increases skin hydration factors such as hyaluronic acid, filaggrin, and serine palmitoyltransferase, reinforcing skin barrier function.

Pigmentary Modulation:

Astragalus extracts modulate melanogenesis through multiple pathways, including MITF, tyrosinase, and ERK signaling. While most components suppress melanin production, AS-IV may promote pigmentation via AhR/AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin activation, suggesting formulation-specific effects.

WHAT IS ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS?

Astragalus membranaceus (Milk Vetch) has been a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine for over two millennia, and it is recognized for its wide-ranging therapeutic potential, including skin anti-aging and hair-growth. The root of Astragalus membranaceus is rich in bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins. These herbal compounds have been shown to be effective in mitigating skin aging through mechanisms of enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, collagen preservation, and UV protection.

IS ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?

Its effects on collagen, oxidative defense, and telomere preservation support its use in cosmeceuticals. However, further randomized trials are needed to confirm long-term efficacy and safety for all skin types and tones.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

It is not recommended to use astragalus membraceus during pregnancy due to a lack of safety data and potential risks.

People with autoimmune conditions should exercise caution or avoid using it due to its potential to stimulate immune activity and interact with immunosuppressant medications. Consult with your doctor.

Sources:

  1. Jackson S, Waibel J, Park L. Astragalus membranaceus extract as a Pigmentary and Anti-Aging Skincare Ingredient: A Systematic Review. J Drugs Dermatol (In press).
  2. Jackson S, Waibel J, Cognetta AB Jr, Ratushny V, Park L. Astragalus membranaceus as a Botanical Ingredient for Hair Growth: A Systematic Review. Submitted: Cutis.
  3. Alt C, Tsapekos M, Perez D, et al. An Open-Label Clinical Trial Analyzing the Efficacy of a Novel Telomere-Protecting Antiaging Face Cream. Cosmetics. 2022; 9, 95. doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics9050095
  4. Chen B, Li R, Yan N, et al. Astragaloside IV controls collagen reduction in photoaging skin by improving transforming growth factor-β/Smad signaling suppression and inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-1. Mol Med Rep. 2015;11(5):3344-3348. doi:10.3892/mmr.2015.3212
  5. Naser W. The cosmetic effects of various natural biofunctional ingredients against skin aging: A review. Int. J. Appl. Pharm. 2021;13:10-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2021v13i1.39806
  6. Liu P, Zhao H, Luo Y. Anti-Aging Implications of Astragalus Membranaceus (Huangqi): A Well-Known Chinese Tonic. Aging Dis. 2017;8(6):868-886. doi:10.14336/AD.2017.0816
  7. Mishra RA, Thorat RV, Mahapatra S, et al. Analyzing the active constituents of astragalus: A Salient element in human health. Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy. 2023;17(Supplement 3B):1327-39. doi.org/10.5530/ctbp.2023.3s.67
  8. Berezutsky MA, Durnova NA, Vlasova IA. Experimental and Clinical Studies of Mechanisms of the Antiaging Effects of Chemical Compounds in Astragalus membranaceus (Review). Adv Gerontol. 2020; 10, 142–149. doi.org/10.1134/S2079057020020046
  9. Lan S, Duan J, Zeng N, et al. Network pharmacology-based screening of the active ingredients and mechanisms of Huangqi against aging. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(17):e25660. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000025660
  10. Wen W, Chen J, Ding L, et al. Astragaloside exerts anti-photoaging effects in UVB-induced premature senescence of rat dermal fibroblasts through enhanced autophagy. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2018;657:31-40. doi:10.1016/j.abb.2018.09.007
  11. Wang J, Ke J, Wu X, et al. Astragaloside prevents UV-induced keratinocyte injury by regulating TLR4/NF-κB pathway. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(3):1163-1170. doi:10.1111/jocd.14174
  12. Zhang Y, Chen Z, Chen L, et al. Astragali radix (Huangqi): a time-honored nourishing herbal medicine. Chin Med. 2024;19(1):119. doi:10.1186/s13020-024-00977-z
  13. Liu Y, Liu J, Wang Y, et al. The Different Resistance of Two Astragalus Plants to UV-B Stress is Tightly Associated with the Organ-specific Isoflavone Metabolism. Photochem Photobiol. 2018;94(1):115-125. doi:10.1111/php.12841
  14. Li Q, Wang D, Bai D, et al. Photoprotective effect of Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharide on UVA-induced damage in HaCaT cells. PLoS One. 2020;15(7):e0235515. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0235515
  15. Yu Y, Zhou L, Yang Y, et al. Cycloastragenol: An exciting novel candidate for age-associated diseases. Exp Ther Med. 2018;16(3):2175-2182. doi:10.3892/etm.2018.6501
  16. Yang MH, Hwang ST, Um JY, et al. Cycloastragenol exerts protective effects against UVB irradiation in human dermal fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes. J Dermatol Sci. 2023;111(2):60-67. doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2023.07.001
  17. Feng C, Chen X, Yin X, et al. Matrix Metalloproteinases on Skin Photoaging. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024;23(12):3847-3862. doi:10.1111/jocd.16558
  18. Herndon JH Jr, Jiang L, Kononov T, et al. An Open Label Clinical Trial of a Multi-Ingredient Anti-Aging Moisturizer Designed to Improve the Appearance of Facial Skin. J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(7):699-704. doi:10.1111/jocd.12817
  19. Tsao YT, Kuo CY, Kuan YD, et al. The Extracts of Astragalus membranaceus Inhibit Melanogenesis through the ERK Signaling Pathway. Int J Med Sci. 2017;14(11):1049-1053. doi:10.7150/ijms.20335
  20. Wang Y, Ding M, Chi J, et al. Based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics to analyze the mechanism of action of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of vitiligo and COVID-19. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):7455. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-34471-7
  21. Liu B, Xie Y, Wu Z. Astragaloside IV Enhances Melanogenesis via the AhR-Dependent AKT/GSK-3β/β-Catenin Pathway in Normal Human Epidermal Melanocytes. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:8838656. doi:10.1155/2020/8838656

Valery Pekic

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