PROPERTIES AND ACTIVITY
Asparagus roots contain protein 22%, fat 6.2%, Carbohydrate 3.2%, Vitamin B 0.36%, Vitamin C 0.04% and traces of Vitamin A. It contains several alkaloids. Alcoholic extract yields asparagin- an anticancer agent. It also contains a number of antioxytocic saponins, viz. Shatavarisn - I to IV (Syamala, 1997). Leaves contain rutin, diosgenin and a flavonoid glycoside identified as quercetin - 3 - glucuronide. Flowers contain quercetin hyperoside and rutin. Fruits contain glycosides of quercetin, rutin and hyperoside while fully ripe fruits contain cyanidin - 3 - galactoside and cyanidin - 3 - glucorhamnoside. Root is demulcent, diuretic, aphrodisiac, tonic, alterative, antiseptic, antidiarrhoeal, glalctogogue and antispasmodic. Aerial part is spasmolytic, antiarrhythmic and anticancer.
Bark is antibacterial and antifungal.
ABOUT THE SPECIES
The plant, Asparagus, is reputed to be a tonic and an eriatric. The tubers are antidiarrhoetic, diuretic, nutritive, tonic, aphrodisiac, appetizer, and alterative. They are also
Reported to increase lactation. In addition, the plant is considered slightly sweet, and is useful in the diseases of blood, kidney, liver, scalding urine, rheumatism, gleets, and gonorrhoea.Shatavar is a scandent, much-branched, spinous under-shrub with tuberous roots. The roots are fascicled, fleshy, spindle-shaped, light ash-colored externally and white internally, more or less smooth when fresh, but on drying, develop longitudinal wrinkles and lack any well-marked odor. Branches are modified into cladodes with long basal decurved spines. Flowers are white, fragrant, and minute, about 3 mm long and occur in solitary or fascicled, 2.5–5 cm long, racemes. Fruit is a three-lobed, red colored berry, up to 6 mm in diameter, with mottled seeds and oily endosperm. Flowering and fruiting occur in December–January.
BIOCHEMISTRY OF SHATAVARI
Active Constituents
· Steroidal saponins, known as shatavarin I-IV. Shatavarin I is the major glycoside with 3 glucose and rhamnose moieties attached to sarsasapogenin, whereas shatavarin-IV.
· Isoflavones including 8-methoxy-5, 6, 4’- trihydroxyisoflavone 7-O-beta- lucopyranoside5.
· Asparagamine, a polycyclic alkaloid6 · racemosol, a cyclic hydrocarbon (9, 10- dihydrophenanthrene).
· Polysaccharides, mucilage.
Adaptogenic Activity
Six rasayana plants from Ayurveda, has been studied for their adaptogenic potential. The whole, aqueous, standardized extracts of selected plants (Tinospora cordifolia, Asparagus racemosus, Emblica officinalis, Withania somnifera, Piper longum and Terminalia chebula) were administered orally to experimental animals, in a dose extrapolated from the human dose, after which they were exposed to a variety of biological, physical and chemical stressors. The plant extracts were found to offer protection against the stressors, as measured by markers of stress responses and objective parameters for stress manifestations. Using a model of cisplatin induced alterations in gastrointestinal motility; the ability of the plants to exert a normalizing effect, irrespective of direction of pathological change was tested. All the plants reversed the effects of cisplatin on gastric emptying, while Asparagus racemosus also normalized cisplatin-induced intestinal hypermotility. All the plant drugs were found to be safe in both acute and subacute toxicity studies. Studies on the mechanisms of action of the plants revealed that they all produced immunostimulation. A traditional Ayurvedic formulation, Siotone, a rasayana formulation with adaptogenic properties contains Withania somnifera, Ocimum sanctum, Asparagus racemosus, Tribulus terristris and shilajit (a mineral-rich, composted plant exudate scraped off rocks). All ingredients are classified in Ayurveda as rasayanas which are reputed to promote physical and mental health, improve defense mechanisms of the body and enhance longevity. An in vivo study has shown that Siotone improved glucose tolerance, libido, depression, cognitive dysfunction and immunosupression caused by chronic stress.9 Diuretic Activity Shatavari has been shown to inhibit antidiuretic hormone.
Antitussive Activity
The methanol extract of Asparagus racemosus root (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant antitussive activity on sulfur dioxide-induced cough in mice, the cough inhibition (40.0 and 58.5%, respectively) being comparable to that of 10-20 mg/kg of codeine phosphate (36.0 and 55.4%, respectively). Examined in rat liver mitochondria. An extract of shatavari was shown in vitro to have potent antioxidant properties in mitochondrial membranes of the rat liver. Both the crude extract as well as a polysaccharide-rich fraction ignificantly inhibited lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. Both fractions also partly protected against radiation-induced loss of protein thiols and inactivation of superoxide dismutase.
Antibacterial Activity
Different concentrations (50, 100, 150 mcg/mL) of the methanol extract of the roots of Asparagus racemosus showed considerable in vitro antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. The effects produced by the methanol extract were compared with chloramphenicol.13 the antimicrobial activity may be due to 9, 10-Dihydrophenanthrene.
Immunological Activity
Shatavari is an immunomodulator. Animal studies found that shatavari is capable of producing leucocytosis with neutrophilia and, furthermore, was able to prevent myelosuppression by reducing cyclophosphamide-induced leucopenia. Shatavari has also been shown to inhibit drug induced mammary carcinogenesis.The hypothesis that macrophages play a pivotal role in the development of intraperitoneal adhesions and that modulation of macrophage activity, therefore, may prevent adhesions, was tested in an Indian study. The effects of shatavari were evaluated in an animal model of intraperitoneal adhesions. Shatavari reduced the severity of the adhesions and this correlated with a significant increase in the activity of the macrophages. An vitro study found that shatavari increased phagocytic activity of macrophages18 while an in vivo study found that Asparagus racemosus,Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera and Picrorhiza kurrooa nhibited drug-induced suppression of chemotactic activity and production of interleukin-1 and TNF-alpha by macropahges Cytoprotective Effects Oral pretreatment with Asparagus racemosus (200 mg/kg/day) was found to rotect against chemical induced gastric damage in rats.20 Pretreatment with shatavari has also been shown to reduce drug induced lung fibrosis.Bleomycin increases the hydroxyproline content of lung tissue causing intralveolar fibrosis and deranged alveolar architecture. Shatavari significantly (p<0.001) the bleomycin induced lung fibrosis. These protective effects were associated with a significant increase in alveolar macrophage activity.Shatavari has also been shown to reduce alcohol induced damage to the gastric mucosa. Pretreatment for seven days caused a 70% reduction in the ulcer index.8 Digestive Activity Shatavari is used in Ayurveda for dyspepsia (amlapitta) and it has been shown to improve digestion by increasing the levels of amylase and lipase.21 An Indian study with eight healthy male volunteers compared shatavari with the drug metoclopramide, which is used in dyspepsia to reduce gastric emptying time. Metoclopramide and shatavari did not differ significantly in their effects. It was found that shatavari reduced gastric emptying time by 37% (p<0.001).
Antioxytocic Activity
The saponin rich fraction was shown to have antioxytocic activity. The saponin inhibited oxytocin-induced uterine contractions in vivo.10 Hormonal Activity Pure 9, 10- dihydrophenanthrene has been shown to interact with androgen receptors and may therefore inhibit androgen-dependent prostatic growth.25 Shatavarisn, the steroidal saponins, may be responsible for the hormonal like effect of shatavari and explain its traditional use as a reproductive tonic. Toxicity The LD50 is >1g/kg. No toxic effects or mortality were observed with doses ranging from 50mg/kg to 1g/kg for four weeks. Acute and subacute (15-30 days administration) toxicity studies did not detect any changes in vital organ function tests. Actions Adaptogen, antitussive, antioxidant, antibacterial, immunomodulator, digestive, cytoprotective, galactogogue, anti-oxytocic, antispasmodic, antidiarrhoeal, sexual tonic.Indications · Stress, fatigue, general weakness· Chronic disease, prevention of adhesions, cancer · Cough · Fluid retention
· Inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts including cystitis, gastritis, diarrhoea and
Gastrointestinal ulceration.
· Sexual debility and infertility; insufficient lactation, menopausal symptoms.
· Threatened miscarriage
