ABSTRACT
The plant Asparagus racemosus is widely distributed in the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions of India. Based on preliminary reports, there is a lot of interest in using the roots of this plant for treating sexual disorders. Tuberous plants are the vital source of medicinal drugs. Among these A. racemosus is an important herb which is well known for its pharmacological applications. The Asparagus genus (Asparagaceae) has over 300 species, which are widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions. A. racemosus Willd. or “Satavar” is a creeper of the plant genus Asparagus. Shatavari have been used since ages by the rural people as a galactagogue. The herb is a source of phytochemicals such as steroidal saponins, flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, and rutin) and polyphenols (secondary metabolites that have high pharmacological importance). These active principles give medicinal value to the plant as antiulcerogenic, antioxytocic, antitussive, antidiabetic, 60immunostimulants, cardioprotective, anticancer, antihepatotoxic, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, antiaging, antidepressant, antilithiatic, and anticandidal activities. Recently few reports are available demonstrating beneficial effects of alcoholic and water extract of the roots of A. racemosus in some clinical conditions and experimentally induced disease, for example, galactogougue affects, antihepatotoxic, immunomodulatory effects, immunoadjuvant effect, antilithiatic effect, and teratogenicity of A. racemosus. This chapter emphasizes the therapeutic uses of medicinal plant A. racemosus.
