**7.3 Pharmacological actions**

*Phytochemicals in Human Health*

**7.** *Asparagus racemosus Willd.*

*racemosus Willd*; **Hindi:** Satavar.

Scientific classification

Virya, Madabhanjani, Shatpadi, Shatvirya.

**7.2 Phytochemical active principals**

*Vernacular names*

Asparagaceae.

**7.1 Historical aspects**

**6.4 Reflections and future recommendations**

Roots and seeds have been used as a treatment for various illnesses and as a diuretic, despite the lack of clinical evidence. So many active chemical constituents were isolated and identified. However, not all pharmacological activity of those isolated compounds was done. *In vivo* anticancer activity is desirable to confirm the in vitro findings. Studies have claimed that *Asparagus officinalis L.* has other pharmacological effects which were not reported as ethnobotanical uses of this plant, such as anti-fatigue effects, enhanced anoxia tolerance, induced analgesia and improved memory, as well as the decreased contents of lipid peroxide in plasma, liver and brains of the rats. However, this was not linked to the active compound present from

**English name:** Wild Asparagus, Indian Asparagus, Hundred Roots, *Asparagus* 

**Synonyms:** Indeevari, Sukshamapatra, Bahusuta, Shatmooli, Narayani, Bhiru,

**Kingdom:** Plantae; **Sub-family:** Asparagoideae; **Clade:** Angiosperms; **Genus:** Asparagus; **Order:** Asparagales; **Species:** *Asparagus racemosus Willd*.; **Family:**

*Asparagus racemosus Willd.* has been used traditionally for ages as a female reproductive tonic as it prevents abortion and promotes the health of the mother and growing fetus when used in antenatal care. This plant also increases lactation and is useful for the treatment of gynecological diseases when used in postnatal care [64]. Research has supported other reported ethnobotanical uses of this plant for female reproductive system-related health issues. This plant can be described as a climbing shrub which is thorny and has woody stems. The leaves become minute scales and spines. Fruits are round and are a purple black color. Roots are succulent and tuberous and taper at both ends. It is distributed throughout India, and almost commonly found in areas up to an altitude of 4000 feet in the Himalayas and in Ceylon [64]. Tuberous roots of the plant are the parts used [65]. The tubers are eaten as a sweetmeat. The root contains juice which, when fresh used with honey as a demulcent in bilious dyspepsia or diarrhea. It is used in the preparation of medicated oils for external application to sufferers of nervous and rheumatic infections, and urinary tract infections [64].

The main active sections of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* are steroidal saponins (Shatavarins I–IV), which are the phytoestrogen compounds which are present in the roots of this plant [66–69]. Shatavarin IV is a glycoside of sarsasapogenin having two molecules of rhamnose and one molecule of glucose. It also contains mucilage and starch. The 8-methoxy-5,6,4′-trihydroxyisoflavone, a new isoflavone, was separated from the roots of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* by Saxena and Chaurasia [70]. A novel oligospirostanosid 1,3-O-[α-l-3-rhamnopyronosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-

rhamnopyronosyl(1 → 4)-O-β-d-glycopyranosyl]25(S)-5β-Spirostan-3β-ol also known

the plant that could be responsible for those pharmacological activities.

**216**

The healing qualities of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* are useful to a wide array of ailments. Ayurvedic (Indian traditional medicines database) literature considers it a strong drug which can improve memory intelligence and physical strength and maintain youthfulness [48, 80]. *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* can also be used as a uterine sedative. In addition, a glycoside, Shatavarin 1, separated from the roots of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* has been found to be responsible for the competitive blocking of oxytocin-induced contractions, *in vitro* as well as *in vivo* [19, 64]. In India, it is recognized as a female tonic. In spite of being a rejuvenating herb, it is recognized as being used in female infertility, as it increases libido, is able to cure inflammation of sexual organs, and can be used to moisten dry tissues of the sexual organs. It further enhances folliculogenesis and ovulation, prepares the womb for conception, prevents miscarriages, acts as post-partum tonic by increasing lactation, normalizing uterus and changing hormones. It is also used in leucorrhoea and menorrhagia [65, 81].

The roots of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* have been described as bitter-sweet, emollient, cooling, nervine tonics, preventing constipation, and may be used as an aphrodisiac, diuretic, carminative and antiseptic [82]. The powdered dried root exhibits galactagogic properties as there was an increase in milk secretion during lactation [83]. While active it has resulted in the action of released corticosteroids or an increase in prolactin. The other study also agreed with the galactagogic effect of this plant, because an alcoholic extract of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.*, increased the prolactin levels in female rats (Kumar et al., 2008). It served as a potential stimulator for early restoration of milk production without any adverse effects [84]. The juice of fresh roots of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* is recommended for duodenal ulcers [85]. The plant can also be used to treat skin diseases, wounds and as a demulcent in dyspepsia [64]. The aqueous root extract possesses immunoadjuvant potential [37]. In the roots of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* antioxidant and anti-ADH (Antidiuretic hormone) activity were found to be present [72, 86], and there was antitumor and anticancer activity [87, 88].

*Asparagus racemosus Willd.* displayed a preventative action on DMBA (-7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats. Rats which were fed on *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* diet displayed a decline in both tumor incidence and mean number of tumors per tumor bearing animal [76]. Studies also showed that the plant has anti-ulcerogenic activity [89], anti-inflammatory activity and antimicrobial activity [90]. Antimicrobial activity was used against *Escherichia coli*, *Shigella dysenteriae*, *Shigella sonnei*, *Shigella flexneri*, *Vibrio cholerae*, *Salmonella typhi*, *Salmonella typhimurium*, *Pseudomonas pectida*, *Bacillus subtilis* and *Staphylococcus aureus*, and sensitivity was observed in all strains under study [90]. As *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* is believed to have no antibacterial action, protection

offered by *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* against sepsis by altering function of macrophages, shows its potential immunomodulatory property [91, 92].

Methanolic extract of roots displayed important antitussive activity on sulfur dioxide-induced coughs in mice [93]. An aqueous solution of the crude alcoholic extract of the roots displayed significant antiprotozoal activity against *Entamoeba histolytica in vitro* [94]. An examination was made on rat liver mitochondria for the possible antioxidant effects of crude extract and purified aqueous fraction of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* against member damage induced by the free radicals generated during gamma radiation [86, 95]. It also raised the urinary concentration of magnesium, which is considered as one of the suppressors of crystallization [96]. Aqueous and butanol fractions displayed less prominent effects on the release of, especially at lower glucose concentration [97]. *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* further showed the potential of anti-HIV, (Human immunodeficiency virus) and its active principles are being investigated [98].

It can be concluded that *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* has immense importance in the folk medicine. In Ayurveda, *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* has been described as perfectly safe for long term use, even during pregnancy and lactation. To support this theory, an *in vivo* study was conducted and the systemic administration of higher doses of all extracts did not display any abnormality behavioral patterns in mice and rats [99], neither did it produce mortality even up to higher oral dosages of 64 g/kg [100].

#### **7.4 Reflections and future recommendations**

Intensive research has been performed on the active compounds from this plant. The plant was reported to have anticancer activity. However, cell lines used, and solvents used were not mentioned. While antitumor activity was reported on the mammary carcinogenesis only, more research using other cell lines is required to explore the antitumor and anticancer activity of this plant root's extract. The potential of this plant as cancer inducing agent has not been thoroughly elucidated as *in vivo* studies showed the safety of this plant. However, the exposure duration was not long enough. It is well known that the process of carcinogenesis is very slow, thus the adverse effects after 10 years of using *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* has not been determined scientifically. It will, therefore, be important to understand the mutagenicity of the plant before we can conclude that it is hundred percent safe. Mechanism of action of the active compounds from this plant and human trials are required, as different metabolic reactions in humans may influence the activity of the compound.

## **8.** *Asparagus densiflorus* **(kunth) jessop**
