Yuhong Huang¹ , Minghui Huang²

1 Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
2 Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang AandF University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Medicinal Plant Research, 2025, Vol. 15, No. 5   doi: 10.5376/mpr.2025.15.0024
Received: 15 Aug., 2025    Accepted: 17 Sep., 2025    Published: 22 Oct., 2025

Huang Y.H., and Huang M.H., 2025, Systematic review of clinical applications of Astragalus membranaceus in respiratory disorders, Medicinal Plant Research, 15(5): 224-232 (doi: 10.5376/mpr.2025.15.0024)

Astragalus membranaceus, as a fundamental herb in traditional Chinese medicine, has garnered increasing attention for its application in respiratory disorders. This study reviews the clinical evidence of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of both acute and chronic respiratory diseases, including upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, COPD, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis. The results indicate that Astragalus membranaceus and its active constituents possess multiple pharmacological mechanisms—anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-fibrotic—contributing to improved lung function, symptom relief, and enhanced quality of life. When combined with conventional Western medicine or traditional herbal formulas, it demonstrates potential synergistic effects and reduced adverse reactions. Despite these promising findings, limitations remain, such as small sample sizes, low methodological quality, and insufficient standardization in current clinical trials. Astragalus membranaceus holds broad application prospects in respiratory medicine, but its safety and efficacy need further validation through high-quality, multicenter clinical studies to support its integration into evidence-based medical practice.

Astragalus membranaceus; Respiratory diseases; Clinical application; Pharmacological effects; Evidence-based research