Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality and the fifth most prevalent cancer in the world. Current statistics reveal an annual occurrence exceeding 1 million cases of stomach cancer, with an estimated 800,000 fatalities. Infection with Helicobacter pylori has consistently been identified as the primary causative agent in the development of GC. Additional risk factors encompass excessive salt consumption, a nutritionally deficient diet lacking in fruits and vegetables, familial predisposition, age, and tobacco use (Venneman et al., 2018, Petryszyn et al., 2020, Smyth et al., 2020). Regions like East Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America are marked to have the highest incidence and mortality rates of GC (Jemal, Bray et al. 2011). The incidence rates of GC have declined with the diminishing prevalence of H. pylori over recent decades, as it used to be the top leading cause of cancer (Petryszyn, Chapelle et al. 2020). However, despite concerted efforts, gastric cancer remains a prominent contributor to cancer-related deaths, necessitating innovative strategies and interventions for its complete eradication. Researchers are actively exploring novel approaches to address this pressing public health concern.

Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) have lately garnered significant attention from researchers because of their multitarget, multichannel, and multilink properties. TCM has demonstrated a diverse array of advantages in the cancer treatment process, including antiproliferative abilities, symptom alleviation, enhancing postsurgery recovery, attenuation of tumor recurrence, immunomodulatory functions, improving quality of life, and prolonging survival (Liu, Ma et al. 2021), (Figure 1). Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Fabaceae) (AM), a valuable perennial plant with a centuries-long history of utilization in China as a traditional herb, holds a prominent position. AM is listed as the top quality in the classic work of traditional Chinese medicine, Bencao Ganmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), known as "the most effective of tonic medicine". It is widely used in the classic prescription of TCM clinical treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. In recent years, it has been gradually applied to the clinical treatment of gastric ulcers, precancerous lesions and gastric cancer (Na et al., 2009, Yan et al., 2023). A. mongholicus is mainly distributed in the Russian Federation, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and China, where the herb is mostly located in Gansu, Shanxi, Shaanxi provinces, and the Inner Mongolia region (Zhang et al., 2012, Auyeung et al., 2016, Sheik et al., 2021). With more than 3,000 distinct species of herbs, Astragalus is among the largest genera in the family of legumes (POWO 2019). Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. are the most prominently used genus of Astragalus, which is also known as Astragali radix or Huang qi in China. The dried root of the herb serves as the medicinal component, employed as an adaptogen to relieve the body from stress and treat bodily disorders such as fatigue, common cold, chronic diarrhea, shortness of breath, anorexia, edema, indigestion, sores, ulcerations, and night sweats (Zhang et al., 2012, Sheik et al., 2021). Hence, this article aims to elucidate the potential role of Astragalus mongholicus in treating gastric cancer and provide the up-to-date overview of its pharmacological effects.