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ASTRAGALUS
Astragalus is an herb known since the ancient times. It is mentioned by Dioskourides and Theophrastos. There are 33 species in Greece with the Stenophylos (the narrow leafed) the most widespread. The most well-known pharmacological property of Astragalus is the stimulation of the immune system.
ASTRAGALUS
Names - Species
Astragalus membranaceous is an herb known since the ancient times. In Greece it is known under the names: Tragakantha or Tragakanthos, Kolostoupi (Parnassos), Palamonidi (Fthiotida), Kentoukli or Kentoukla (Crete), Mouloroffana.
The name Kentoukla is of Byzantine origin. The Byzantinians called Kentoukla their heavy woolen coats. Kentoukla has cyanide leaves and under its dense foliage has many thorns. In Psiloritis (Crete) Kentoukla has wider leaves. In Lassithi (Crete) it has narrow leaves. A type of Kentoukla is the cheakpea plant which gives seeds extremely nutritive for the sheep. The Cretans, however, used the Kentoukla’s gum also for therapeutic purposes.
Kentoukla
Botanical Description
Astragalus belongs to the family of Legumes. In the Greek flora there are 33 species listed and some of them are the Cephalonian, found in Kefallinia, Parnassis and Fthiotida, the Cretan, native of Crete, the Parnassios found in Parnassos, Attica and Epirus; the Stenophyllos (narrow leafed), common throughout Greece, but mainly in Epirus, Crete and Cyprus.
Perennial plant, low bush with many branches. Leaves of 2 to 5 cm in length, in feather-like formation, with 6 or 7 pairs of linear, spear-like hairy smaller leaves ending in a thorn. Flowers 10 to 12 millimeters in pairs, in the armpits of the leaves. The plant has an off-white, fibrous root that grows laterally. Its stem is fibrous, branched, with a complex formations of leaves, with many leaflets. Its flowers are without stem and the fruit is like "bean".
The medicinal part of the plant is its roots, from plants of 4 to 7 years old, and is harvested in the spring to be dried subsequently.
Stenophylos
History
An herb known since the ancient times The Astragalus of Armenia is the Astragalus of Dioskourides and Theophrastos. Theophrastos called it Tetragatha. Dioscorides refers to the plant having soothing properties, to be suitable for the respiratory system diseases and tonic for weakened organisms.
Tragakanthos
Pharmacological Properties
The main pharmacological property of Astragalus is the stimulation of the immune system. The immunostimulant effect of Astragalus root extract is associated with its polysaccharide fractions (Astragalus polysaccharides - APS). APS activate B cells and macrophages by increasing the cytokine production (small proteins important in cell signalling).
APS also increases the production of interferon (alpha- and gamma-interferon).
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