**4. Chemical constituents**

*A. aspera*consist of different types of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, reducing sugar and saponins. Saponins include ecdysterone, 20-hydroxy-ecdysone [23]. It consists of alkaloids such as three bisdesmosidic saponins (I-III), 20-hydroxyecdysone, quercetin 3-*O*-β-d-galactoside [24]. It possesses triterpenoids, which are β-d-glukopyranosyl-13-β-[*O*-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-*O*-β-dglucopyrauronosyloxy] machaerinate [25]. It is also a good source of ketones, including 36, 37-dihydroxyhenpentacontan-4-one, triacontanol, 36,47-dihydroxyhenpentacontan-4-one [26, 27]. Pentatriacontane, 6-penta-tri-acontanone, Hexa-triacontane, tritriacontane, these are found in the stem of *A. aspera* [27]. Leaves and stem leaves consist of different types of chemical constituents such as 20-hydroxy ecdysone, quercetin-3-*O*-β-d-galactoside, P-benzoquinone, hydroquinone, spathulenol, nerol, asarone and eugenol [28, 29]. Seeds of *A. aspera*contains a number of d-glucoronic acid, β-d-galactopyranosyl ester of d-glucoronic acid, oleanolic acid, amino acid, hentriacontane, 10-tricosanone, 10-octacosanone and 4-tritriacontanone [30]. It is also consist of various type of cyclicchain aliphatic fatty acids, fatty acid composition (lauric, myristi, palmitia, stearic, arachidic, behenic, oleic and linoleic acid) and oleonolic acid glycosides [α-lrhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-(β-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1 → 3)-oleonolic acid, α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-(β-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1 → 3)-oleonic acid-28-*O*-β-d-glucopyranoside [31, 32].

Acyranthine a water soluble alkaloid present in the *A. aspera* is responsible for various type of pharmacological activities like dilation of blood vessels, lowering of the blood pressure, depression of heart and increase the rate and amplitude of

respiration. It is also consisting of another water soluble alkaloid known betain. Betain is isolated from the whole plant [33].
