astragalus polysaccharides

Astragalus polysaccharides are a **botanical polysaccharide drug substance** derived from *Astragalus membranaceus* roots. In the clinical development context provided, the exact drug is best matched to **PG2**, an injectable, highly purified astragalus polysaccharide preparation developed by **PhytoHealth** in Taiwan; PG2 is described as an active fraction with >90% polysaccharide purity, average molecular weight about 20,000\u201360,000 Da, and dominant alpha-1,4-linked glucans with branching at the 6-position. The drug has been developed primarily as a supportive-care therapy for **cancer-related fatigue**, especially in advanced cancer, and has also been studied as an adjunct to chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy to reduce fatigue and improve quality of life. Its mechanism is not defined by a single receptor target; instead, published and clinical materials describe **immunomodulatory, hematopoietic-supportive, anti-inflammatory, and symptom-relieving effects**, with reported effects on cytokine signaling and host immune status. The name \"astragalus polysaccharides\" is somewhat broad because it can also refer to non-PG2 oral or experimental APS preparations used in preclinical research, so the highest-confidence clinical asset here is the injectable PG2 product rather than all astragalus-derived polysaccharide mixtures generically.

Brand names

PG2® Lyo. Injection

Other names

astragalus polysaccharidesAPSAstragalus polysaccharide黄芪多糖