Research reviews on astragaloside IV

Objective To review the researches on the astragaloside Ⅳ,one of the main active constituents of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.var.mongholicus(Bge.)Hsiao or A.membranaceus(Fisch.)Bge.,and provide the basis for its further research.Methods Papers published mainly in the recent 5 years had been reviewed including the pharmacological activity,physical and chemical property,content determination,pharmacokinetics and purification,etc.Results The astragaloside Ⅳ was reported to have the immune regulation,organs protection,hypoglycemic,apoptosis regulation,anti-inflammatory and anti-virus effects.The reproductive toxicity effect of astragaloside Ⅳ was reviewed for the first time.Conclusions This review provides a useful reference for the pharmaceutical application of astragaloside Ⅳ.