ASPARAGUS Asparagus racemosus
Liliaceae
San, Mar, Hin, Mal: Satavari; Ben: Shatamuli, Guj: Ekalkanto, Tel: Pilligadalu, Philithaga
Tam: Ammaikodi, Kilwari, Kan: Aheruballi, Ori: Manajolo
Importance
Asparagus is a climbing undershrub with widespread applications as diuretic, cooling
agent and an excellent safe herbal medicine for ante-natal care. It is useful in nervous
disorders, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, tumours, inflammations, vitiated conditions of vata and
pitta, burning sensation, hyperdipsia, ophthalmopathy, nephropathy, hepatopathy, strangury,
scalding of urine, throat infections, tuberculosis, cough, bronchitis, gleet, gonorrhoea,
leucorrhoea, leprosy, epilepsy, fatigue, hyperacidity, colic haemorrhoids, hypertension,
abortion, agalactia, cardiac and general debility (Warrier et al, 1993).
Shatavari is described in Rigveda and Atharvaveda. In Ayurvedic classics it is
prescribed as a cooling agent and uterine tonic. It is the main ingredient in ayurvedic
medicines like shatavari gulam and shatavari ghrtam. Besides quenching thirst, its root
juice helps in cooling down the body from summer heat, curing hyper-acidity and peptic
ulcer. It contains good amount of mucilage which soothes the inner cavity of stomach. It
relieves burning sensation while passing urine and is used in urinary tract infections. It
contains an anticancer agent asparagin which is useful against leukaemia. It also contains
active antioxytocic saponins which have got antispasmodic effect and specific action on
uterine musculature. It is very good relaxant to uterine muscles, especially during pregnancy
and is used to prevent abortion and pre-term labour on the place of progesterone
preparations. Its powder boiled with milk is generally used to prevent abortion. It increases
milk production in cows and buffaloes. Its preparations in milk helps in increasing breast
milk in lactating women. Its proper use helps in avoiding excessive blood loss during
periods. It clears out infections and abnormalities of uterine cavity and hence it is used to
rectify infertility in women. The leaves are used to prepare toilet soaps. The plant has also
ornamental value both for indoor and out door decorations (Syamala, 1997).
Distribution
The plant is found wild in tropical and subtropical India including Andaman and
Nicobar Islands. It is distributed from mean sea level upto 1500m in the Himalayas from
Kashmir eastwards. The crop is cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Predesh and
northern states in India. However, most of the requirement of the industry is met through wild
collections from forests. It is also grown in gardens.
Botany
Satavari, Asparagus racemosus Willd. belongs to the lily family, Liliaceae.
Asparagus adscendens Roxb., A. filicinus Lam., A. gonoclados Baker, A. officinalis Linn.
and A. sarmentosus Willd. are the other important medicinal plant species of the genus. A.
racemosus Willd. is an armed climbing undershrub with woody terete stems and recurved or
rarely straight spines. The tuberous succulent roots are 30cm to 100cm or more in length,
fascicled at the stem base, smooth tapering at both ends. Young stems are very delicate,
brittle and smooth. Leaves are reduced to minute chaffy scales and spines; cladodes
triquetrous, curved in tufts of 2-6. Flowers are white fragrant in simple or branched recemes