email   Email Us: info@lupinepublishers.com phone   Call Us: +1 (914) 407-6109   57 West 57th Street, 3rd floor, New York - NY 10019, USA

Lupine Publishers Group

Lupine Publishers

  Submit Manuscript

ISSN: 2638-6070

Scholarly Journal of Food and Nutrition

Review Article(ISSN: 2638-6070)

Asparagus Racemosus: A Therapeutic Herb

Volume 3 - Issue 3

Muhammad Farhan Jahangir Chughtai*, Shoaib Aziz, Samreen Ahsan, Ayesha Ali, Nimra Sameed, Kanza Saeed and Syed Junaid ur Rehman

  • Department of Food Science and Technology, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Pakistan

Received: August 25, 2020;   Published: September 07, 2020

*Corresponding author: Muhammad Farhan Jahangir Chughtai, Department of Food Science and Technology, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan

DOI: 10.32474/SJFN.2020.03.000161

 

Abstract PDF

Abstract

Asparagus racemosus has been successfully used as herbal medicine and also served as food. All the parts of this plant have therapeutically importance for treatment of stomach ulcer, liver disorders, inflammation, stress-related immune disorders, dyspepsia, can also act as galactogogue and decreases apoptosis. Its water and alcohol based extracts act as strong antioxidant, immunity booster and also have antitussive effects. It regulates blood fat and cholesterol levels. Its bioactive moieties like phytochemicals (saponins and flavonoids) used in various pharmacological activities. This mini review is enlightening the importance and its pragmatic approaches to cure many diseases.

Keywords:Asparagus racemosus; Extracts; Bioactive moieties

Introduction

Asparagus racemosus is a perennial plant, horizontal root stock, thick roots and extended young shoot eaten as vegetable. It is also known by the name of Shatavari, an Indian herb. The word Shatavari means “the one who owns hundred husbands or can be acceptable to numerous”. It is very important for female reproductive system and even considered as tonic to solve issues related to reproduction system [1]. This plant is mainly grown in tropical and subtropical regions of India and Himalayas. This plant also cultivated in Australia, Sri Lanka, tropical Africa and Indonesia [2]. Asparagus belongs to family Asparagaceae [3]. Asparagus racemosus is a woody stem plant having needle-like leaves and a white small flower [4]. Asparagus is derived from two Greek words “Stalk” and “Shoot”. Approximately there are 200 species in the world of Asparagus. It is usually grown in Indian region. Some of its species like Asparagus gonaclades, Asparagus odsendens are used in natural medicine. Asparagus racemosus root has bitter-sweet taste, palliative, stomachic, cooling, binding, aphrodisiac, nervine tonic, galactogogue, diuretic, rejuvenating, carminative, antiseptic and as tonic. There are many beneficial effects of A. racemosus root in treatment of many diseases like nervous breakdown, diarrhea, inflammation, liver problem, cough, bronchitis and many other contagious diseases [3]. Their shoots are also very beneficial. They contain aldehyde, ketones vanillin, asparaguic acid; thiazole and its methyl and ethyl ester are used in giving flavors. Their flower and mature fruits on dry basis contain 2.5% rutin and quercetin. Diosgenin and quercetin 3-glucuronide are present in leaves. Bark of Asparagus racemosus performed antibacterial and antifungal activity. Approximately 3% protein, 5.4% saponins, 52.8% carbohydrates, 18% crude fiber, 4.1% inorganic matter and 5% oil are present in powdered roots. In ancient time people of Rome and Greece used Asparagus because of their diuretic property. It helps to wash out kidney and prevent the formation of stones in kidney. It is also very beneficial for increase the production of urine and cellular activity of kidney [5].

Herbalism is a wonderfully simple and astoundingly complex therapy of healing in tune with nature and It is also known as ecological healing because it works within the context of humanity’s shared ecological and evolutionary heritage with the plant kingdom [6]. Herbs have got commercial successes and also have been used from a long time ago in cosmetics, food and teas and most importantly in medicines known as phytomedicine or phytotherapy [7]. According to estimate of World Health Orgnization (WHO) 80 percent of the population of some Asian and African countries uses herbal medicines with special concern of some primary health care aspects. No doubt that there are thousands of herbs are available in every corner of whole world but each herb has its own specialty to cure the diseases that’s why it is also known as Ayurvedic rasayana. It helpful in delaying ageing process and increase durability, impart immunity, nervous system health, prevent from tumors, neuropathy, dyspepsia, inflammation and hepatopathy [8,9].

A. racemosus belongs to family Liliaceae and commonly known as Satamuli, Satawar, Satavari and it also grown throughout India in at low altitudes. Asparagus racemosus is phytoestrogens rich plant species and highest bioactive constituents of asparagus are a group of steroidal saponins. This plant also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, C and E along with minerals including Mg, Ca, P, Fe, and folic acid. Other primary chemical constituents of Asparagus are essential oils, asparagine, flavonoids, arginine, tyrosine (kaempferol, quercetin, and rutin), tannin, and resin [10,11].

Pharmacological Activities

Mixture of A. racemosus and additional herbal ingredients in the form of Rica lax tablet have shown the effective role in increasing the milk production in females complaining of insufficient secretion of milk. Reason of increase in milk secretion was drug therapy not any psychological problem. A. racemosus is used in different form e.g. powdered form of A. racemosus is utilized in Ayurveda for dyspepsia while Juice of fresh root of A. racemosus has positive effect observed in patient of duodenal ulcers. In Ayurveda A. racemosus has been detected safe in pregnancy and lactation for long term use. Rats interacted with ethanol extract of A. racemosus at doses 800 and 1600mg/kg fairly reduced the serum amount of calcium, phosphorus, urea and keratin [12]. Aphrodisiac originates from Greek word. In current time this term has been applied for substances that increase sexual activity and are productive in treating sexual dysfunction. A. Africanus roots extract signified antifertility activities of 60% with aqueous and 40% with ethanol respectively given by gavages to rats at a dose of 300mg kg-1 of body weight. A. pubescens Bak roots have an antifertility effect because of delaying the oestrous cycle and disturbing hormone secretion [13]. A. racemosus has significant role in antiulcerogenic agent. It causes inhibitory effect on the secretion of gastric hydrochloric acid and cover up gastric mucosal damage [14]. Methanol extract of the roots of Asparagus racemosus have antibacterial influence against Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus subtillis, Pseudomonas putida and Staphylococcus aureus [15] and also effect the spectrum of inhibition on Staphylococcus werneri, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Histopathological study of hepatic tissues engaged with diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) and aqueous extract of the roots of A. racemosus ceased the influence of hepatocarcinogenesis [16]. Steroidal components of the A. racemosus were checked for the apoptotic activity and believed to have the capacity to tumor cell death [17].

Asparagus racemosus is equally effective as ranitidine and have negative effect on the releasing of gastric juice and acidity of stomach [14]. A. racemosus also heal the wounds of chronic ulcer of stomach stimulated by ethanoic acid within 10 days. Also heal the mucosa, their secretion and their longevity, so it will protect the stomach against acid and pepsin severities [9]. The dry root extract of A. racemosus is used as effective drug against many system upsetting causes. It is identified from the researches that dried roots tincture is use to control AIDS symptoms. A. racemosus is successfully used by homeopathic practitioner against nervous disorder, inflammation and certain infectious diseases. The roots are known as tonic and effective agent to treat against ulcer and empowering the mucosal wall [12]. A. racemosus has been found effective to cure intra-abdominal infection that can be fatal and may leads to trauma and bowel surgery. Oral administration of A. racemosus in the form of roots powder also reported to exhibit the Immuno-modulating property. It has been found with improved phagocytic activity of the polymorphs and macrophages. So, protection offered by A. racemosus against sepsis by altering macrophages, function representing its possible immunomodulatory property [12].Top of Form Alcohalic extract from Asparagus racemosus roots shown to have diuretic effects in rats and hypoglycemic effects in rabbits, but there is no discovery of anticanulsant and antifertility effect in rats and rabbits. On other hand it also shows anti-amoebic effect in rats [18,19].

Conclusion

Asparagus racemosus is used in many medicines and have prodigious traditional importance. Asparagus racemosus is also used in natural form of medicines like Unani, Sidha, Ayurveda. By many experiments and scientific study traditional practices are proven. This plant has great potential in healthcare and trade. Appreciable work has been done to explore the biological activity and medicative application of plant, still there square measure accessible in numerous prospects of pharmacological application that has to be explored. These plants have many medicinal properties like antioxidant, anti-HIV, hepato-protective, cardiac, antibacterial etc. There are many studies that are reported by extraction of plants. Asparagus racemosus is safest in therapeutic dosage and it is used during the pregnancy with a care. By using biotechnological approaches like micro propagation and callus culture stability can be achieved. Furthermore, the optimization of environmental conditions and the development of appropriate agro techniques would enhance the quality of overall production, thereby assuring of high quality and having phytochemical in optimum yields. Farmer would encourage to take in commercial cultivation of A. racemosus thus restrain the misuse of this plant in the wild and thereby commendation the conservation process (Figure 1&2).

Figure 1: Asparagus racemosus.

upinepublishers-openaccess-Food-Nutrition

Figure 2:A plant, flower, dried stem, powder extract.

upinepublishers-openaccess-Food-Nutrition

References

  1. Gogte VM (2000) Ayurvedic pharmacology and therapeutic uses of medicinal plants. Mumbai SPARC, India.
  2. Chauhan S, Singh R, Gokhale Y, Lhouvum G, Basu AR (2011) Medicinal plant wealth of India, a comprehensive review of selected species, published by ‘The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), prepared for National medicinal plants board. Government of India: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India.
  3. Goyal RK, Singh j, Harbans Lal (2003) Asparagus racemosus-an update. Indian journal of medical sciences 57(9): 408-414.
  4. Joshi Rakesh K (2016) Asparagus racemosus (Shatawari), phytoconstituents and medicinal importance, future source of economy by cultivation in Uttrakhand: A review. Inter J Herb Med 4(4): 18-21.
  5. Negi JS, Singh P, Joshi GP, Rawat MS, Bisht VK (2010) Chemical constituents of Asparagus. Pharmacognosy Reviews 4(8): 215-220.
  6. Hoffmann David (2003) Medical herbalism: the science and practice of herbal medicine. Simon and Schuster.
  7. Barrett Stephen (2013) The herbal minefield Quackwatch.
  8. Sharma PV, Charaka S (2001) Chaukhambha orientalis Varanasi, India p. 7–14.
  9. Sairam KS, Priyambada NC, Goel RK (2003) Gastroduodenal ulcer protective activity of Asparagus racemosus: An experimental biochemical and histological study. J Ethnopharmacol 86(1): 1–10.
  10. Joshi RK (2016) Asparagus racemosus (Shatawari), phytoconstituents and medicinal importance, future source of economy by cultivation in Uttrakhand: A review. Inter J Herb Med 4(4): 18-21.
  11. Joshi T, Sah SP, Singh A (2012) Antistress activity of ethanolic extract of Asparagus racemosus willd roots in mice. Indian J Exp Biol 50(6): 419-24.
  12. Alok S, Jain SK, Verma A, Kumar M, Mahor A, et al. (2013) Plant profile, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari): A review. Asian Pacific journal of tropical disease 3(3): 242-251.
  13. Zhang H, Birch J, Pei J, Ma ZF, Bekhit AED (2019) Phytochemical compounds and biological activity in Asparagus roots: a review. International Journal of Food Science & Technology 54(4): 966-977.
  14. Bhatnagar M, Sisodia SS (2006) Antisecretory and antiulcer activity of Asparagus racemosus wild, against indomethacin plus phyloric ligation-induced gastric ulcer in rats. J Herb Pharmacother 6(1): 13-20.
  15. Ravishankar K, Kiranmayi GVN, Lalitha TM, Priyanka T, Ranjith T, et al. (2012) Preliminary phytochemical screening and in vitro antibacterial activity on Asparagus racemosus root extract. Int J Pharm Chem Biol Sci 2(1): 117-123.
  16. Agrawal A, Sharma M, Rai SK, Singh B, Tiwari M, et al. (2008) The effect of the aqueous extract of the roots of Asparagus racemosus on hepatocarcinogenesis initiated by diethyl nitrosamine 22(9): 1175–1182.
  17. Bhutani KK, Paul AT, Fayad W, Linder S (2010) Apoptosis inducing activity of steroidal constituents from Solanum xanthocarpum and Asparagus racemosus. Phytomedicine 17(10): 789-793.
  18. Chawla Amit, Payal Chawla, Mangalesh, Roy RC (2011) Asparagus racemosus (Willd): biological activities & its active principles. Indo-Global J Pharm Sci 2(2): 113-120.
  19. Mabey, Richard, Anne McIntyre, Michael McIntyre (1988) The New Age Herbalist: How to use herbs for healing, nutrition, body care and relaxation. Simon and Schuster.

https://www.high-endrolex.com/21