Astragaloside, particularly astragaloside IV, is a saponin compound isolated from Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. While Astragalus root has a long history of use in traditional medicine for enhancing vitality and immune function, its specific use for radiation sickness is not well documented in historical medical texts.

Contemporary scientific research, primarily in animal models and in vitro studies, suggests that astragaloside IV may have potential radioprotective effects. Studies have demonstrated that astragaloside IV can mitigate oxidative stress, enhance antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduce DNA damage and apoptosis in cells exposed to ionizing radiation. For example, animal studies have shown that astragaloside IV administration can decrease mortality and tissue damage following radiation exposure, possibly by modulating inflammatory pathways and supporting hematopoietic recovery.

However, these findings are preliminary and largely preclinical; there is a lack of robust human clinical trials confirming efficacy or safety for radiation sickness. The evidence supporting astragaloside's use for this indication is therefore limited and should be considered experimental. More research, especially well-designed clinical trials, is needed before astragaloside can be recommended for radiation sickness in humans.