Research has shown the function of these gums to service plants of semiarid environments, released when the bark of the shrub gets damaged in order to cover the wound to prevent infection and dehydration.

[2] Astragalus gummifer is native to temperate regions of Western Asia centralized in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey but also found in Tajikastan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia.

[2] Astragalus gummifer finds dry sub-alpine slopes and valleys habitable typically 1200–2600 metres below the tree line in Iraq.

[3] Dried sap containing gum can be extracted from the plants root and stem, and used as a food additive (E413) mainly a thickener for salad dressings and sauces.

The plant also serves as an adaptogen fighting against chronic degenerative diseases by helping the body get to normal stress levels.