Asparagus racemosus Willd.

Asparagopsis acerosa Kunth.; Asparagus dubius Decne.; Protasparagus racemosus (Willd.) Oberm.; and others

Asparagaceae (previously in Liliaceae)

Indian asparagus; satavari

Roots

The major active constituents of shatavari are steroidal saponins, the shatavarins I-IV, shatavarosides A and B, immunoside and filiasparoside C, which are glycosides of sarsasapogenin. The roots have also been reported to contain an isoflavone, 8-methoxy-5,6,4′-trihydroxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and alkaloids including asparagamine, and racemosol, a 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivative. Flavonoids including kaempferol have been isolated from the woody portion of the tuberous roots (Alok et al. 2013; Bhutani et al. 2010; Bopana and Saxena 2007; Gautem et al. 2009; Sharma et al. 2009).

No recent clinical trials investigating A. racemosus for any indications were found. Few trials have been undertaken evaluating the effects of shatavari in humans, and the robustness of these is in some doubt. Most of the reported clinical studies concerned proprietary Ayurvedic products, and were uncontrolled and included polyherbal formulations. In one small cross-over study in eight normal healthy male volunteers, 2 g powdered root of shatavari was compared against metoclopramide (10 mg) in the reduction of gastric emptying time. No significant difference between the two treatments was found. In the treatment of diarrhoea, A. racemosus root powder was reported to be effective, but many details, including sample size etc., were not given (Bopana and Saxena 2007). The anti-ulcerogenic activity of A. racemosus root powder (12 g/day in four doses for average duration of 6 weeks) was also reported in another study in 32 patients with duodenal ulcers (Alok et al. 2013).