INTRODUCTION:

The ancient history of India is very rich in herbal medicine and one of the oldest surviving system of health care in the world and known as Ayurveda derived from its ancient Sanskrit roots ‘ayur’ (life) and ‘ved’ (knowledge). It offers a rich, comprehensive
outlook to a healthy life. Originated from India around 5000 years ago it has now spreaded its essence across the globe and has occupied a prime position in health care systems. The Ayurveda is a natural remedy and totally based on herbs. These herbs are being used from Pre-Vedic times because, they are safe to use, cheap and easily available, have no side effect and no residual effect in milk.¹As the demand of clean milk production increases, there is a need to exploit the use of these herbs, which not only improve milk yield but also has beneficial effect on the health of consumers.²

A. racemosus also called “Shatavari” and useful in treating madhur rasam, seetveeryam, som rogam, chronic fever and internal heat ^{[3, 4].} Shatavari means “she who possesses a hundred husbands” indicates that this herb is highly effective in problems related with female reproductive system. Charak Samhita written by Charak and Ashtang Hridyam written by Vagbhata, the two main texts on Ayurvedic medicines, lists Asparagus racemosus as part of the formulas to treat disorders affecting women’s health^[5,6,7]..

A.racemosus is an important medicinal plant and its root paste or root juice has been used in various ailments and as health tonic ^{[8, 9].} A. racemosus is a used for prevent ageing, increase longevity, impart immunity, improve mental function, nervous disorders, dyspepsia, tumors, inflammation, neuropathy and hepatopathy ^[10]. Literature review showed that root extract of A. racemosus has antiulcer activity ^[11], antioxidant, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-diabetic and immunemodulatory activities ^[12]. A study of ancient classical Ayurvedic literature claimed several therapeutic attributes for the root of A. racemosus and has been specially recommended in ~ 19 ~International Journal of Herbal Medicine cases of threatened abortion and as a galactagogue. Root of A. racemosus has been referred as bitter-sweet, emollient, cooling, nervine tonic, constipating, galactagogue, aphrodisiac, diuretic, rejuvenating, carminative, stomachic, and antiseptic and as a tonic ^[13]

Botanical descriptions Botanical Name(s):

Asparagus Racemosus, Asparagus Sarmentosus, Asparagus Gonoclados, Asparagus Adscendens.

FamilyName: Liliaceae

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Asparagales

Family: Asparagaceae

Genus: Asparagus

Species: A. racemosus

Popular Name(s): Wild Asparagus, Asparagus Root, Satavari, Shatamuli

Fig.1 Asparagus racemosus Roots

Medicinal Value of Asparagus racemosus:

Asparagus racemosusis mainly known for its phytoestrogenic properties. With an increasing realization that hormone replacement therapy with synthetic oestrogens is neither as safe nor as effective as previously envisaged, the interest in plant-derived oestrogens has increased tremendously making Asparagus racemosus particularly important. The plant has been shown to aid in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and in alcohol abstinence-induced withdrawal symptoms. Asparagus racemosus is prescribed for stomach ulcers, hyperacidity and diarrhea, dry and irritated membranes of the vagina and in the upper respiratory tract. It is beneficial in treating bronchitis as well as. Asparagus root possesses aphrodisiac, demulcent, general tonic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-oxidant and antispasmodic properties. Regular use of asparagus root treats infertility, impotence, leucorrhea, menopause syndromes, hyperacidity, and certain infectious diseases such as herpes and syphilis.¹³

1. Effect in young Woman’s:

In young females it may increase weight of ovaries and may enhance folliculogenesis, as evidenced by a histological study of ovaries of immature female rats. A significant rise is serum follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) is observed with a dose 100 mg/kg of A.R. root extract. This phytoestrogenic activity is due to the presence of steroidal saponins which exert hormone like actions in the body, and also due to the isoflavones which have mild estrogenic activity that help to balance the estrogen levels.^[14]. In a study the mammogenic effect of topical application of phytoestrogen containing plant materials was assessed in female wistar rats. A significant increases in size of the breast and teats has been reported, further histological study of breast tissues showed hyperplasia which was not like the changes typical of late pregnancy and lactation. The effect is being hypothesized due to the phytoestrogens^[15], but the mechanisms of action is not justified.

2. Galactogogue effect:

The root extract of A.racemosus is given in old to increase milk secretion during laction[16]. A. racemosus is combination with other herbal substance in the form of Ricalax tablet (Aphali pharmaceutical Ltd. Ahmednagar) has been shown to increase milk production in woman complaining of deficient milk secretion [17]. Gradual decrease in milk secretion, on withdraw of the drug suggested that the increase in milk secretion was due to drug therapy only and not due to any psychological effect. In the form of a commercial preparation, lactare (TTK Pharma, Chennai) is reported to enhance milk output in women complaining of scantly breast milk, on the 5th day after delivery [18]. A significant increase in milk yield has also increase growth of mammary glands, alveolar tissue and acini in guinea pigs [19]. Patel et al. have shown galactogogue effect of A. racemosus in buffaloes [20]. However, Sharma et al. did not observed any increase in prolectin level in females complaining of secondary lactational failure with A. racemosus, suggesting that it has no lactogenic effect [21]. In other study, the aqueous fraction of the alcoholic extract of the roots at 250 mg/kg, administratered intramuscularly, was shown to cause both on increase in the weight of mammary gland lobuloaveolar tissue and in the milk yield of oestrogen primed rats. The activity has attributed to the action of released corticoteroids or an increase in prolactin [22]

CONCLUSION:

Shatavari is a very useful medicinal plant, which is used, in many incurable diseases in Ayurveda and also in Himalayan traditional medicine system. Traditionally this plant is used as a reproductive tonic. It is also used traditionally for treating gonorrhea, piles, diabetes, increasing lactation, anthelmintic (pertaining to a substance capable of destroying or eliminating parasitic worms, esp. human intestinal helminthes), rheumatism, cough, diarrhea, dysentery, gastric troubles and headache. Ayurveda has been practiced for thousands of years in India with great success. Uses of Asparagus racemosus for human being is already well documented and support its therapeutic use as a multi-purpose medicinal agent.

REFERENCES:

1. Krishna L. et al. (2005). Indian J. Anim. Sc. 75(12): 1481-1491.

2. Santosh kumar, r. k. mehla and a.k. dang, use of shatavari (asparagus racemosus) as a galactopoietic and therapeutic herb- a review, agric. rev., 29 (2) : 132 - 138, 2008

3. Gogte VM. Ayurvedic Pharmacology and Therapeutic uses of Medicinal Plants – Dravyagunavignyan. SPARC, Mumbai; 2000.

4. Frawley D. Ayurvedic Healing – A Comprehensive Guide. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited, Delhi; 1997.

5. Sharma RK, Dash B. Charaka Samhita – Text with English Translation and Critical Exposition Based on Chakrapani Datta’s Ayurveda Dipika. Chowkhamba; Varanasi, India; 2003.

6. Garde GK. Sarth Vagbhat (Marathia Translation of Vagbhat’s Astangahridya). Uttarstana, Aryabhushana Mudranalaya, pp.40-48; 1970

7. Atreya. Ayurvedic Healing for Women. Samuel Weiser, Inc, York; 1999.

8. Krtikar KR, Basu BD. Indian Materia Medica, India. 1975; 3:2499-2501.

9. Goyal RK, Singh J, Lal H. Asparagus racemosus- An update. Ind. J Med Sci. 2003; 57:408-414.

10. Sairam KS, Priyambada NC, Goel RK. Gastroduodenal ulcer protective activity of Asparagus racemosus: an experimental, biochemical and histological study. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003; 86(1):1-10.

11. Kamat JP, Boloor KK, Devasagayam TP, Venkatachalam SR. Antioxdant properties of Asparagus racemosus against damaged induced by gamma radiation on rat liver mitochondria. J. Ethanopharmacol. 2000; 71:425-435.

12. Chopra RN, Chopra IC, Handa KL, Kapur LD. Indigenous drugs of India, Calcutta: Academic Publishers, 1994, 496

13. Jhansee mishra1, Alok kumar Dash1 and Suresh Kumar, hundred problems, one solution asparagus racemosu,wjpr,vol.1,issue 1,201-202,2012

14. Kalia V, Jadav AN, Bhuttani KK. In vivo effect of Asparagus racemosus on serum gonadotrophin levels in immature female wistar rats. 2^nd world congress of Biotech. Dev. of Herbal Med. NBRI, Lukhnow, pp. 40. 2003

15. Pugalendhi V, Karunanithi R, Panicker TMR, Abraham C, Gurumurthy P, Jagadeesan K. A Pilot Study on the Breast Development in Female Wistar Rats Using an Indigenous Herbal preparation by topical application Bombay Hosp Jour, 2004; 46 : 03

16. Nadkarni AK. Indian materia medica. Bombay; Popular Book Depot; 1954, p. 153-155

17. Joglekar GV, Ahuja RH, Balwani JH. Galactogogue effect of Asparagus racemosus. Indian Med J 1967; 61: 165.

18. Sholapurkar ML. Lactare-for improving lactation. Indian Prac1986; 39: 1023-1026.\

19. Narendranath KA, Mahalingam S, Anuradha V, Rao IS. Effect of herbal galactogogue (Lactare) a pharmacological and clinical observation. Med Surg 1986; 26: 19-22.

20. Patel AB, Kanitkar UK. Asparagus racemosus Willd. Form Bordi, as a galactogogue, in buffaloes. Indian Vet J 1969; 46: 718-721.

21. Sharma S, Ramji S, Kumari S, Bapna JS. Randomized controlled trial of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) as a lactogogue in lactational inadequacy. Indian Pediatr 1996; 33: 675-677.

22. Joglekar GV, Ahuja RH, Balwani JH. Galactogogue effect of Asparagus racemosus. Indian Med J 1967; 61: 165

Received on 28.07.2017 Modified on 24.08.2017

Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 2018; 11(1): 418-420.

DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2018.00077.X