**3. Asparagus species with medicinal properties**

The genus Asparagus is an herbaceous plant comprising approximately 150 species around the world which are comprised of herbs, shrubs and vines [11]. Asparagus

**209**

*Medicinal Properties of Selected Asparagus Species: A Review*

forms part of *Asparagaceae*, which is a monogeneric family and was formerly included in the *Liliaceae* family. Asparagus species are naturally distributed along Asia, Africa and Europe [12]. Most of these species have economic value as ornamental plants, such as *Asparagus plumosus*, and for their medicinal properties from plants such as *Asparagus laricinus Burch*. Asparagus species have numerous biological properties, such as being antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antihepatotoxic, immunostimulant, and reproductive agents. Among large number of asparagus species that are used as medicine, five of them have been chosen as they have been investigated for their anticancer activity, namely: *Asparagus laricinus Burch.; Asparagus africanus Lam.; Asparagus officinalis L.; Asparagus racemosus*; and *Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop*.

**Afrikaans:** Bergkatbos, Bergkatdoring, Fynkatbos, Katdoring,

*Asparagus laricinus Burch.* is a very hardy, evergreen, shrubby Asparagus with fine, feathery foliage and silvery, zigzag branchlets. It has myriads of tiny white, nectar-rich flowers that develop during spring and summer. These flowers are fragrant and attract insects and birds. Birds in the garden are attracted by its bright red and black berries. It may be grown in the sun or semi-shade and is a very useful plant for a security hedge as it is extremely spiny. It is fire-resistant and, if the stems burn, it shoots quickly from the base. The new shoots can be eaten as a vegetable. It grows in sun or shade and in all types of soil except water-logged soils. It can grow up to 1.5 m. *Asparagus laricinus Burch.* is native to Botswana and South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. They are used to treat tuberculosis, sores, red water, uterine infection, general alignments, umbilical cord inflammation, and serve as a diuretic.

Roots and leaves of *Asparagus laricinus Burch.* had tannins, saponins, terpenes, steroids. However, only roots showed the presence of alkaloids [14], while leaves are devoid of alkaloids [15]. The leaves further had flavonoids, glycosides, steroids and carbohydrates. The stems are rich in saponins, tannins, and flavonoids, with a lack of steroids, glycosides and carbohydrates [15]. The *Asparagus laricinus Burch.* aqueous roots extract contained 4.2 g/l GAE (Gallic acid equivalent) total phenolic content, while leaves and stem aqueous extract showed the phenolic concentration of 0.572 mg/GAE and 0.277 mg/GAE, respectively. It was apparent that leaves had more phenolic content than the stem, and this was supported by the number of active phytochemicals identified from both parts of the plant. Fuku et al. [14] isolated and identified three compounds from the *Asparagus laricinus Burch.* roots:

Secondary metabolites produced by plants for plant protection do not only benefit plants, but they also have health benefits for human beings. These compounds

Langbeenkatdoring; Zulu: Ibutha, Setswana: Lesitwana [13]. **Synonym:** *Protasparagus laricinus (Burch*.) Oberm.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87048*

**4.** *Asparagus laricinus Burch.*

**English:** Wild asparagus;

**4.2 Phytochemical active principals**

indole-3-carbinol, α-sitosterol and ferulic acid.

**4.3 Pharmacological actions**

*Vernacular names*

**4.1 Historical aspects**

*Medicinal Properties of Selected Asparagus Species: A Review DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87048*

forms part of *Asparagaceae*, which is a monogeneric family and was formerly included in the *Liliaceae* family. Asparagus species are naturally distributed along Asia, Africa and Europe [12]. Most of these species have economic value as ornamental plants, such as *Asparagus plumosus*, and for their medicinal properties from plants such as *Asparagus laricinus Burch*. Asparagus species have numerous biological properties, such as being antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antihepatotoxic, immunostimulant, and reproductive agents. Among large number of asparagus species that are used as medicine, five of them have been chosen as they have been investigated for their anticancer activity, namely: *Asparagus laricinus Burch.; Asparagus africanus Lam.; Asparagus officinalis L.; Asparagus racemosus*; and *Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop*.
