Asparagus racemosus - A multi-use medicinal miracle herb: A review

Asparagus racemosus known as Shatavari or Satavar, belongs to family Asparagaceae. It can be found in tropical Africa, Java, Australia, Sri Lanka, southern China and India, although it is predominantly cultivated in India. A group of steroidal saponins, sarsasapogenins, flavonoids, kaempferol, quercetin, rutin, and polyphenols are the main bioactive ingredients that give the herb its medicinal significance. Because of its remarkable potential, the tuberous roots of this herbaceous plant are widely used in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries in the creation of numerous herbal remedies. The root extracts have been shown to have pharmacological properties such as rejuvenator, antioxidant, estrogenic, immunomodulator, antistress, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-amoebic, antitumor, gastroprotective. In Ayurveda it is known as 'Rasayana' due to its therapeutic properties. In animal health too, plant is widely used especially in the dairy animals to improve their productive and reproductive performance. The present review explores the phytochemical constituents and therapeutic properties of A. racemosus that provide the plant a medicinal significance.