Astragalus spinosus
Astragalus spinosus, commonly known as the thorny milkvetch, is a resilient perennial herb native to arid Mediterranean and subtropical regions. Characterized by its distinctive spiny stems and delicate pea-like flowers, this plant plays a vital role in stabilizing soil and offers significant ethnobotanical value in traditional medicinal practices.
- Scientific name: Astragalus spinosus
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and is identified by the genus Astragalus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Astragalus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Astragalus spinosus, is recognized by several different common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Arabic, it is referred to as قتاد شوكي, الجداد, or جداد, while in Hebrew, it is known as קדד משולחף.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | قتاد شوكي | Wikidata |
| he | קדד משולחף | Wikidata |
| ar | الجداد | Wikidata |
| ar | جداد | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical range that spans across both Northern Africa and Western Asia. In the African continent, its distribution is notably concentrated within the countries of Egypt and Libya. Moving into Western Asia, the species can be found growing in the landscapes of Iran and Iraq. Additionally, its presence extends to the region covering Lebanon and Syria. Together, these locations define the natural habitat where Astragalus spinosus is typically located.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Iran | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Iraq | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Lebanon-Syria | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Palestine | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Sinai | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Kuwait | WCVP |
| Arabian Peninsula | Saudi Arabia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Astragalus spinosus, possesses various morphological features that are utilized in traditional medicine. The most significant medicinal components are often found in the roots, where many therapeutic compounds are concentrated; specifically, the taproot is frequently harvested for its bioactive properties. Above the ground, the leaves are characterized by their distinct shape and arrangement along the stems. The entire aerial part of the specimen is often studied to understand its complete chemical profile, as the various aerial organs, including the stems and flowers, contribute to the overall medicinal potency of the species.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial part | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial organs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Astragalus spinosus has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, glycosides, rutin-7-O-hexoside.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin-7-O-hexoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Astragalus spinosus has 4 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antitumor.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiviral | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Astragalus spinosus has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include AIDS, Bacillus cereus, HSV-1, HSV-2, Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| AIDS | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus cereus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HSV-1 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HSV-2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |