Astragalus atropilosulus

(Hochst.) Bunge

Nachilare

Fabaceae Edible: Leaves, Root, Vegetable 5 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Astragalus atropilosulus is a perennial herb in the family Fabaceae. It is native to Eastern Africa and some parts of the Arabian Peninsula. It is used as a vegetable in Malawi and Kenya.

Description

A herb. It has an erect stem about 1 m high. There are a few branches. The leaves are compound. They are 1-3 cm long. There are 10-15 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are bright yellow. They are in large groups. The pods are small and papery.

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a side dish and are sometimes mixed with the leaves of Solanum nigrum. The roots are added to hot milk to help a woman having uterine pains after childbirth.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are cooked and eaten. The root is chewed for its pleasant taste.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

A decoction of the roots is added to hot milk and given to women with uterine pains after childbirth. Phytochemical analysis of the whole plant showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, volatile oils and sterols/triterpenes. An ethanolic extract produced a decrease in heart contractions and a fall in blood pressure, neuromuscular blocking activity, and hypernatraemia.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia,

Notes

There are about 2,000 Astragalus species.

References (7)

Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 80
Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 93
Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint Petersbourg, Sér. 7, 11(16):4. 1868; 15(1):4. 1869
Mutie, F. M., et al, 2023, Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches. Plants 2023, 12, 1145
Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 131

Show all 7 references

Williamson, J., 2005, Useful Plants of Malawi. 3rd. Edition. Mdadzi Book Trust. p 33
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew