Astragaloside IV
[CAS 84687-43-4]

Identification

• Classification: Biochemical >> Chinese herbal medicine ingredients
• Name: Astragaloside IV
• Molecular Formula: C₄₁H₆₈O₁₄
• Molecular Weight: 784.97
• CAS Registry Number: 84687-43-4
• SMILES: C[C@]12CC[C@@]34C[C@@]35CC[C@@H](C([C@@H]5[C@H](C[C@H]4[C@@]1(C[C@@H]([C@@H]2[C@]6(CC[C@H](O6)C(C)(C)O)C)O)C)O[C@H]7[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O7)CO)O)O)O)(C)C)O[C@H]8[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H](CO8)O)O)O

Properties

• Density: 1.4±0.1 g/cm³ Calc.^*
• Melting point: 295 - 296 °C (Expl.)
• Boiling point: 895.7±65.0 °C 760 mmHg (Calc.)^*
• Flash point: 495.5±34.3 °C (Calc.)^*
• Index of refraction: 1.621 (Calc.)^*

^* Calculated using Advanced Chemistry Development (ACD/Labs) Software.

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS07 Warning
• Risk Statements: H315-H319-H335
• Safety Statements: P261-P305+P351+P338

Discovery and Applications

Astragaloside IV is a naturally occurring saponin glycoside belonging to the class of cycloartane-type triterpenoid saponins. It is one of the principal bioactive constituents isolated from the roots of *Astragalus membranaceus*, a medicinal plant widely used in traditional East Asian herbal medicine.

Structurally, astragaloside IV consists of a cycloartane triterpene aglycone linked to sugar moieties through glycosidic bonds. The aglycone portion is a highly oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenoid framework, while the glycosidic chains typically include glucose and other monosaccharide units. This amphiphilic structure, combining a hydrophobic steroid-like core with hydrophilic sugar residues, is characteristic of saponins and is responsible for their surfactant-like properties.

Saponins such as astragaloside IV are known for their ability to interact with biological membranes due to their dual hydrophilic–hydrophobic nature. The hydrophobic triterpene portion can associate with lipid bilayers, while the sugar chains interact with aqueous environments. This allows astragaloside IV to modulate membrane permeability and influence cell signaling processes.

Astragaloside IV has been widely studied for its pharmacological activities, which include immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cardioprotective effects. These biological actions are mediated through multiple signaling pathways rather than a single molecular target, reflecting the complex nature of natural product pharmacology.

One of the key mechanisms associated with astragaloside IV is modulation of inflammatory signaling pathways such as NF-κB and MAPK. By inhibiting activation of these pathways, it can reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This contributes to its observed anti-inflammatory effects in experimental models.

Astragaloside IV has also been investigated for its effects on cardiovascular and metabolic systems. It is reported to improve endothelial function, reduce oxidative stress, and support myocardial protection under conditions of ischemia-reperfusion injury. These effects are thought to involve enhancement of nitric oxide signaling and reduction of reactive oxygen species.

In addition, astragaloside IV has been studied for potential effects on aging-related processes. Some research suggests it may influence telomerase activity, cellular senescence pathways, and mitochondrial function, although these mechanisms are still under active investigation and not fully established in clinical contexts.

From a physicochemical perspective, astragaloside IV is a large, highly oxygenated molecule with relatively low water solubility despite the presence of multiple sugar units. Its amphiphilic nature allows limited interaction with both aqueous and lipid environments, but its size and polarity generally restrict passive diffusion across biological membranes, meaning absorption and bioavailability are relatively low.

As a glycoside, astragaloside IV can undergo enzymatic hydrolysis in biological systems, potentially yielding the corresponding aglycone and sugar residues. These metabolic transformations can influence its bioactivity and pharmacokinetic behavior.

In traditional herbal preparations, astragaloside IV is part of a complex mixture of saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides that collectively contribute to the therapeutic effects attributed to *Astragalus* root. Modern pharmacological studies often aim to isolate astragaloside IV to understand its specific contributions within this mixture.

Overall, astragaloside IV is a cycloartane-type triterpenoid saponin characterized by a hydrophobic steroid-like core and hydrophilic sugar chains. Its significance lies in its broad range of reported biological activities, particularly in immune regulation, inflammation modulation, and cardiovascular protection, making it an important natural product of pharmacological interest.

References

2026. The LOTUS Initiative for Open Natural Products Research: frozen dataset union wikidata (with metadata). .
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5794106

2023. Characterization and structure-based protein engineering of a regiospecific saponin acetyltransferase from Astragalus membranaceus. Nature Communications.
URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10519980

2023. Perspectives on the current antiviral developments towards RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and methyltransferase (MTase) domains of dengue virus non-structural protein 5 (DENV-NS5). European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115416