*Vernacular names*

**English name:** Wild Asparagus, Indian Asparagus, Hundred Roots, *Asparagus racemosus Willd*; **Hindi:** Satavar.

**Synonyms:** Indeevari, Sukshamapatra, Bahusuta, Shatmooli, Narayani, Bhiru, Virya, Madabhanjani, Shatpadi, Shatvirya.

Scientific classification

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

#### **7.1 Historical aspects**

*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].

#### **7.2 Phytochemical active principals**

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

**217**

*Medicinal Properties of Selected Asparagus Species: A Review*

as immunoside was isolated, and it was biologically evaluated as an immunomodulatory agent [71]. Wiboonpun et al. [72], isolated a new antioxidant compound named Racemofuran, together with known compounds asparagamine A and racemosol. Three steroidal saponins (Racemosides A, B and C) were also isolated from the methanolic extract of fruit of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.*. Polycyclic alkaloid like asparagamine A, and disaccharide in roots are also reported in other research studies [73–75]. *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* is also reported to have alkaloids, proteins, starch, tannin, flavonoids, glycosides of quercetin, rutin and hyperoside in roots and flowers [76]. Quercetin 3-glucuronide is present in leaves [77]. There were few trace minerals like zinc (53.15), manganese (19.98), copper (5.29), and cobalt (22.00 microgram per gram) together with calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and selenium [68, 78]. The callus culture of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* has shown synthesis of sarsasapogenin [79]. However,

no report has been received on the chemistry of the contents of its fruit.

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

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

**7.3 Pharmacological actions**

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

as immunoside was isolated, and it was biologically evaluated as an immunomodulatory agent [71]. Wiboonpun et al. [72], isolated a new antioxidant compound named Racemofuran, together with known compounds asparagamine A and racemosol. Three steroidal saponins (Racemosides A, B and C) were also isolated from the methanolic extract of fruit of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.*. Polycyclic alkaloid like asparagamine A, and disaccharide in roots are also reported in other research studies [73–75]. *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* is also reported to have alkaloids, proteins, starch, tannin, flavonoids, glycosides of quercetin, rutin and hyperoside in roots and flowers [76]. Quercetin 3-glucuronide is present in leaves [77]. There were few trace minerals like zinc (53.15), manganese (19.98), copper (5.29), and cobalt (22.00 microgram per gram) together with calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and selenium [68, 78]. The callus culture of *Asparagus racemosus Willd.* has shown synthesis of sarsasapogenin [79]. However, no report has been received on the chemistry of the contents of its fruit.
